Helios Towers, one of the biggest telecoms tower leasing companies operating in Africa, has raised US$364 million after listing on the London Stock Exchange. The public listing of telecoms is happening after a lapse of several months. The companies were sceptical about the market conditions. Even in the case of Helios Towers, the company first backtracked on a IPO amid concerns of political stability prevailing in some of its African markets. Helios has nearly 7,000 stations operating in countries like South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Republic of Congo and Tanzania. Founded in 2009 with a US$350 million backing by London-founded private equity firm Helios Investments alongside investors including billionaire George Soros and former US secretary of state Madeline Albright, it has made deep imprints in the African market. The mobile subscriber base in the African region is likely to exceed 600 million according to some estimates. This will boost the demand for infrastructure needed for operation of mobile companies, such as towers, laying of last mile connectivity etc. It is reliably learnt that several other African companies are in the process of raising funds from the market. Recently, both MTN of Africa and Airtel of India had listed in Nigerian Stock exchange and are learnt to have mopped up decent capital
