  The concurrent foundation failure of telecommunication masts in Nigeria and
all over the world which endanger the lives and properties of residents
situated within the fall distance of the telecommunication mast are a thing of
great concern. In this study, a GSM mast that underwent foundation failure at
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria was critically examined with a view to providing
engineering solution. The soil investigation at the global system for mobile
communications (GSM) telecommunication tower comprised of laboratory tests:
sieve analysis, Atterberg limits and moisture content tests were carried out on
the soil samples obtained while Dutch cone penetrometer test was performed on
the site to a depth of refusal to determine the allowable bearing pressure at
various depths of the soil. The application of Boussineq's and Westergard's
formulae for point loads using Java programme to simulate and compute the
stress distribution at various predetermined depths showed the stress
distribution pattern beneath the failed foundation of the structure. The stress
distribution pattern revealed that the soil strength was lower than the imposed
loadings from the structure thereby resulting in differential settlements and
cracks at the foundation. A variety of engineering solutions were recommended
to improve the soil strength and thus prevent such occurrences in future.
