The verdict in three sentences
Above 500 sites, a towerco managing leases, colocations and fuel through spreadsheets and messaging groups loses money on diesel, which accounts for 40 to 60 % of operating costs on African portfolios. A custom platform at 150,000 - 400,000 GBP built in London links field readings, fuel deliveries and tenant billing. A 5 % cut in consumption on 1,500 sites is enough to pay back the project in about a year.
The four flows a towerco must control
A portfolio of 1,500 towers in a market such as Côte d'Ivoire combines grid-connected sites, hybrid sites (grid, batteries, solar) and off-grid sites running entirely on generators. Each site generates four information flows that must be reconciled.
| Flow | Annual volume on 1,500 sites (2026 estimate) | Spreadsheet problem | What the software does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground leases | 1,500 contracts, 300 renewals | Missed expiries, double rent payments | Alerts 90 days before expiry, payment history |
| Operator colocations | 2,200 to 2,800 tenancies | Amendments never billed | Automated billing per contract and equipment |
| Preventive and corrective maintenance | 12,000 to 18,000 jobs | Lost tickets, SLA breaches | Tickets, geolocation, before and after photos |
| Generator fuel | 6 to 9 million litres | Gaps between delivered and consumed | Reconciles delivery, run hours and tank level |
| Grid and solar energy | 900 to 1,100 connected sites | Utility bills unchecked | Bill validation and outage tracking |
With diesel around 715 FCFA per litre in Abidjan in 2026 (about 0.90 GBP, indicative pump price), 7 million litres cost roughly 6.3 million GBP a year. Each undetected percentage point of loss costs about 63,000 GBP.
What tower management software costs in 2026
The ranges below are 2026 estimates for a London-based build. For reference, the same scope built by a West African agency runs 40 to 90 million FCFA (about 61,000 to 137,000 EUR).
| Module | Budget (2026 estimate, GBP) | Build time |
|---|---|---|
| Site register, mapping, equipment | 25,000 - 60,000 | 5 - 7 weeks |
| Ground leases and landlord payments | 20,000 - 50,000 | 4 - 5 weeks |
| Colocations and tenant billing | 25,000 - 70,000 | 5 - 7 weeks |
| Offline mobile app for technicians | 30,000 - 90,000 | 8 - 10 weeks |
| Fuel module and reconciliation | 25,000 - 70,000 | 6 - 8 weeks |
| Dashboards, SLAs, telemetry integration | 25,000 - 60,000 | 4 - 6 weeks |
| Total project | 150,000 - 400,000 | 6 - 9 months |
International tower management SaaS platforms are often negotiated at 100,000 to 300,000 USD a year for a portfolio this size, with limited fit for local land contracts, mobile money landlord payments and field realities. Building custom, or splitting the build between a London product team and an African delivery team, keeps the platform aligned with each operating country.
The fuel module, the core of the return
Reconciliation relies on three data points: quantity delivered (photographed delivery note), generator run hours and tank level from a sensor or manual reading. The software computes a theoretical consumption per site (litres per hour by generator rating and load) and flags gaps above 8 to 10 % automatically. Suspect sites are prioritised for a control visit. On African portfolios, operators commonly see 5 to 15 % losses from theft, delivery errors and poorly tuned generators.
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Oliver, COO of a London-headquartered towerco, oversees 1,500 sites in West Africa burning 7 million litres of diesel a year, about 6.3 million GBP. He invests 280,000 GBP in a custom platform plus 40,000 GBP a year for maintenance and hosting. Cutting fuel gaps by just 4 % saves about 250,000 GBP a year, plus around 40,000 GBP of colocation amendments now billed. The project pays back in roughly 14 months of full fuel module operation.
FAQ
Can technicians work without signal?
Yes, the mobile app must be offline-first because remote sites often have weak coverage. Readings and photos sync when back in coverage, which accounts for 15 to 20 % of the mobile budget.
Can we connect our existing telemetry?
Most remote monitoring units expose an API or data export. Integration typically costs 5,000 to 15,000 GBP per vendor and replaces most manual readings.
How are landlords paid?
The software generates the rent schedule and can prepare batch payments by mobile money (Wave, Orange Money) or bank transfer. This reduces late payments, the first cause of disputes and site access issues.
How long to get started?
A first release (site register, fuel, mobile app) can be live in 4 to 5 months. Leases and colocation billing follow within 2 to 4 months.
What annual budget after delivery?
Count 10 to 15 % of the initial cost per year for hosting, maintenance and enhancements, roughly 15,000 to 60,000 GBP.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your portfolio size, energy mix and current tools, and we will price the scope, indicative budget and module-by-module schedule. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.