Survey of Telecommunications Infrastructure Sharing Practices Among Network Operators in Kaduna State

Passive infrastructure sharing between telecommunications operators offers a commercially viable and environmentally efficient approach to expanding network coverage while reducing capital expenditure. This study surveys the current extent, forms, and challenges of telecommunications infrastructure sharing practices among network operators in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed, with structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews administered to eighteen telecommunications engineers and infrastructure management personnel from MTN, Airtel, IHS Towers, and American Tower Corporation active in the state. Site visits to fifteen shared tower locations were also conducted to assess the physical configurations of sharing arrangements. Results indicate that passive infrastructure sharing, primarily tower and shelter sharing, is well established in Kaduna, with 68% of surveyed tower sites supporting two or more tenants. However, active infrastructure sharing including radio access network sharing is minimal, with only one operator pair reporting any level of radio resource coordination. Primary barriers to deeper sharing included competitive concerns, incompatible equipment standards between operators, and absence of a mandatory sharing regulatory framework specific to northern Nigerian states. The study found that infrastructure sharing has reduced coverage deployment costs by an estimated 35% at shared sites. Recommendations include development of mandatory active sharing zones in rural and underserved local government areas and strengthening of the Nigerian Communications Commission's infrastructure sharing guidelines. Keywords: infrastructure sharing, tower sharing, telecommunications, Kaduna State, network operators.