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Four bits of expansion news, two domestic and two international: … [visit site to read more]
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news, articles, event and product updates posted on Developing Telecoms.
Subscribe to our FREE weekly email newsletters for the latest telecom info in developing and emerging markets globally.
Four bits of international news: … [visit site to read more]
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news, articles, event and product updates posted on Developing Telecoms.
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Four bits of infrastructure expansion news from the US and Europe: … [visit site to read more]
Kenya’s ICT Authority has reportedly launched an ambitious US$2.4 billion project to reduce digital inequality, modernise business processes, and improve the country’s digital landscape. But this isn’t the only digital transformation initiative announced in East Africa in recent weeks, as the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project may soon be rolled out.
The ICT Authority Strategy Plan 2024-2027, unveiled late last week, provides the framework for transformative projects including nationwide digital literacy programmes, the expansion of secure broadband infrastructure, and the adoption of e-government services.
The US$2.4 billion plan also focuses on addressing connectivity access gaps and create a more equal digital future for all Kenyans.
Dr Margaret Ndung’u, Kenya’s minister for information, communications, and the digital economy, states that her ministry is also moving on with its goal to enhance Kenya’s fibre network coverage nationally (100,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable), establish 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots, and develop 1,450 Digital Village Smart Hubs across the country.
This news comes hard in the heels of an announcement last week that the East African Community (EAC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) are set to commence implementation of the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP).
EAC is a regional intergovernmental organisation of eight partner states: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development is an eight-country trade bloc in Africa.
EARDIP aims to establishing a unified and comprehensive digital network that connects even the most isolated areas, promoting equitable access to digital resources.
In addition, the project seeks to harmonise digital policies and regulations, in order to facilitate smoother cross-border trade and communication, fostering greater regional integration and economic cooperation.
A comprehensive regional cybersecurity framework, including unified cybersecurity policies, sharing threat intelligence, and providing resources for capacity-building in cybersecurity skills, is also planned.
With the rise of the cloud and the growing influence of AI driving infrastructure decisions around the world, new entrants are emerging to build the next generation of internet infrastructure. One such new entrant is Lightstorm, which has rapidly built out DCI infrastructure in India and Southeast Asia in just the last few years. With us today to talk about Lightstorm’s approach to networking for the hyperscale era is CEO Amajit Gupta. Prior to co-founding Lightstorm, Amajit helped run Microsoft’s cloud networking infrastructure. … [visit site to read more]
Data Infrastructure Trust (DIT) sealed the acquisition of American Tower-owned ATC India for INR210 billion (US$2.5 billion), making it the largest towerco in the nation, surpassing rival Indus Towers.
DIT, the tower arm of Brookfield Asset Management, stated that it had acquired around 76,000 sites from ATC India, expanding its portfolio to a total of approximately 257,000 telecom sites. This places it ahead of Indus Towers, which had a portfolio of 225,910 towers as of June 2024.
The Competition Commission of India approved the deal in August, and the terms and conditions of the buyout were finalised yesterday (September 12). The enterprise value of the acquisition stood at INR181.5 billion.
ATC India, incorporated in 2004, reported a turnover of INR121.6 billion for the full year 2023-24, an increase from INR87.6 billion year-on-year.
This deal marked Brookfield’s third acquisition in the Indian telecoms sector. In 2022, the asset management company acquired 6,300 indoor sites and small cells, and in 2020, it acquired 175,000 towers from Reliance Industrial Investments.
Arpit Agrawal, Brookfield Managing Partner and Head of Infrastructure for India and the Middle East, said: “Our expertise, rooted in our history as an owner and operator of high-quality businesses, is exemplified by our acquisition of ATC India. It complements our existing business and further strengthens our footprint, creating the largest tower portfolio in the country and one of the largest platforms globally.”
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