What is the company's current escalator rate in the U.S. and does it have any indication that carriers are leaning more towards new leases as they deploy CDMA
hole initiative and so it is an extension of our existing platform. Again, neutral host, but it really provide ultimately that cloud ramp which we think is going to be needed to be able to enjoy that kind of latency that our enterprise accounts and customers are going to be looking for.
Tim Long -- Barclays Investment Bank -- Analyst
OK. Thank you. I just wanted to follow up, when you think about Africa and particularly India, obviously, some aggressive tower build plans over the next few years, but can you just talk a little bit about kind of this year and potential COVID-related risks to those builds and any other risks to the business because of the pandemic? Thank you.
Tom Bartlett -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Yeah. I mean I think that the build itself, our plan, our outlook, I think, is in the 6,000 to 7,000 sites. There could be some timing issues associated with the build. The need is there.
I'm certain that the sites are going to be built, but particularly in a market like India who are suffering so significantly right now, there can be a timing issue in terms of having essential people out in the marketplace to be able to build. Clearly, lives saved is more important than towers built, so there could be some timing there -- issues. But ultimately, over that five-year period, we are seeing the demand for the 40,000 to 50,000 sites that Rod laid out and our forecast right now is for that 6,000 to 7,000 sites. There could be some timing issues associated with particularly the sites in India.
I'm not seeing the same implications in Africa at this point in time. And by the way, our overall 6,000 to 7,000 sites, that outlook already includes some carving back of what we are expecting overall in the marketplace. And relative to COVID, overall, as we've seen over the last year, our business is quite resilient, people need connectivity. I think that's been more obvious than ever over this past year, particularly in many of our global markets, and so our customers are doing everything possible that they can to be able to maintain that kind of connectivity.
We're doing everything we possibly can to be able to support them, to be able to ensure that kind of connectivity. And so we're working our tails off with our customers to make sure that we can do that.
Tim Long -- Barclays Investment Bank -- Analyst
OK. Thank you.
Operator
Your next question comes from the line of Batya Levi from UBS. Please go ahead.
Batya Levi -- UBS -- Analyst
A couple of questions. First, on U.S., as you think about your long-term guidance, can you tell us what it assumes in terms of the mix of amendments versus new co-location? And the new site build, that program that you have, what percent of that would be in the U.S.? And as the carriers deploy CDMA, do you have any indication that they're leaning more toward new leases as well? And then maybe just a follow-up on the escalator, Rod. If you can tell us a little bit more why it stepped down and then when it will go back to 3%? And also if the DISH MLA, if you can confirm that to 3% escalator as well. Thank you.
Tom Bartlett -- President and Chief Executive Officer
I thought you said there were just a couple of questions?
Batya Levi -- UBS -- Analyst
I know. I thought we should take this call longer.
Tom Bartlett -- President and Chief Executive Officer
No. That's great, that's great. No, thanks for being here and thanks for the question. I'll let Rod take that run with it.
Rod Smith -- Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
Yeah. Thanks for the question, Batya. So I'll try to remember all of the different aspects here, but if I missed any, just to remind you. Maybe I'll start at the end and work backwards a little bit.
So the escalator in the U.S., you saw our escalator for Q1 was about 2.6%. That really was driven by the impact of the timing mechanics within the T-Mobile MLA. As we signed a new MLA with T-Mobile, the escalator shifted from one period to another and that affected the volume of escalator in Q1. But for the full year, we do expect the escalated
hole initiative and so it is an extension of our existing platform. Again, neutral host, but it really provide ultimately that cloud ramp which we think is going to be needed to be able to enjoy that kind of latency that our enterprise accounts and customers are going to be looking for.
Tim Long -- Barclays Investment Bank -- Analyst
OK. Thank you. I just wanted to follow up, when you think about Africa and particularly India, obviously, some aggressive tower build plans over the next few years, but can you just talk a little bit about kind of this year and potential COVID-related risks to those builds and any other risks to the business because of the pandemic? Thank you.
Tom Bartlett -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Yeah. I mean I think that the build itself, our plan, our outlook, I think, is in the 6,000 to 7,000 sites. There could be some timing issues associated with the build. The need is there.
I'm certain that the sites are going to be built, but particularly in a market like India who are suffering so significantly right now, there can be a timing issue in terms of having essential people out in the marketplace to be able to build. Clearly, lives saved is more important than towers built, so there could be some timing there -- issues. But ultimately, over that five-year period, we are seeing the demand for the 40,000 to 50,000 sites that Rod laid out and our forecast right now is for that 6,000 to 7,000 sites. There could be some timing issues associated with particularly the sites in India.
I'm not seeing the same implications in Africa at this point in time. And by the way, our overall 6,000 to 7,000 sites, that outlook already includes some carving back of what we are expecting overall in the marketplace. And relative to COVID, overall, as we've seen over the last year, our business is quite resilient, people need connectivity. I think that's been more obvious than ever over this past year, particularly in many of our global markets, and so our customers are doing everything possible that they can to be able to maintain that kind of connectivity.
We're doing everything we possibly can to be able to support them, to be able to ensure that kind of connectivity. And so we're working our tails off with our customers to make sure that we can do that.
Tim Long -- Barclays Investment Bank -- Analyst
OK. Thank you.
Operator
 Your next question comes from the line of Batya Levi from UBS. Please go ahead.
Batya Levi -- UBS -- Analyst
A couple of questions. First, on U.S., as you think about your long-term guidance, can you tell us what it assumes in terms of the mix of amendments versus new co-location? And the new site build, that program that you have, what percent of that would be in the U.S.? And as the carriers deploy CDMA, do you have any indication that they're leaning more toward new leases as well? And then maybe just a follow-up on the escalator, Rod. If you can tell us a little bit more why it stepped down and then when it will go back to 3%? And also if the DISH MLA, if you can confirm that to 3% escalator as well. Thank you.
Tom Bartlett -- President and Chief Executive Officer
I thought you said there were just a couple of questions?
Batya Levi -- UBS -- Analyst
I know. I thought we should take this call longer.
Tom Bartlett -- President and Chief Executive Officer
No. That's great, that's great. No, thanks for being here and thanks for the question. I'll let Rod take that run with it.
Rod Smith -- Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
Yeah. Thanks for the question, Batya. So I'll try to remember all of the different aspects here, but if I missed any, just to remind you. Maybe I'll start at the end and work backwards a little bit.
So the escalator in the U.S., you saw our escalator for Q1 was about 2.6%. That really was driven by the impact of the timing mechanics within the T-Mobile MLA. As we signed a new MLA with T-Mobile, the escalator shifted from one period to another and that affected the volume of escalator in Q1. But for the full year, we do expect the escalated