(Telecompaper) Helios Towers Tanzania (HTT) has reached an agreement with Vodacom Tanzania to acquire the mobile operator's tower network in the country for stock and cash, in Vodacom Group's first towers transaction. The partnership involves the transfer of 1,149 existing telecom towers from Vodacom to HTT and a commitment to a short-term roll-out which will see a significant increase in points of service owned by HTT and more than double HTT's existing presence in Tanzania. Under the deal, HTT will acquire all of Vodacom's existing passive infrastructure and supply Vodacom with a significant increase in points of service in Tanzania. The deal will enable Vodacom to lease back the infrastructure subject to a long-term contract. The deal will expand HTA's tower coverage in Africa to 4,700 owned towers. The transaction will see Vodacom acquire a 24.5 percent share in HTT.