Digital infrastructure

Our team advised on more digital infrastructure deals by value and volume between 2021 and 2023 than any other group in the market (IJ Global).  

We understand the perspectives of all market participants and appreciate the balance of interests between parties, their respective economic models and their different perspectives on price and non-price issues, such as competition and collaboration. 

Robust and comprehensive legal services across the industry 

In the towers space we work with network infrastructure “pure play” companies and mobile network operators on infrastructure transactions for optimization and rollout projects, sale and leasebacks; complex operator-to operator sharing projects; regulatory matters (including strategic network sharing agreements); and market-leading passive infrastructure deals.  

We have extensive experience of data centers, advising on design and construction requirements; power and data provision; technical solutions for delivery; security and environmental considerations; power charging regimes and calculations; lease services; critical service levels and services charge deductions and interfaces with the planned preventative maintenance regimes; green strategies in agreements for lease; and plant replacement strategies. 

In relation to fiber and sub-sea cables we have expertise in procurement; construction and maintenance agreements; co-location, landing party, regulatory arrangements, M&A; and financing.  

Representative matters

• Liberty Global (LG), Telefónica and Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) on the formation of nexfibre, a joint venture between LG, Telefónica and InfraVia Capital Partners to build a new fiber network to up to 7 million homes in the U.K. VMO2 will be the anchor wholesale client of the JV in addition to providing a range of technical services. Named “Europe Fibre Deal of the Year” by TMT Finance (2024). 
• American Tower on the EUR7.7 billion acquisition of Telxius Towers, comprising approximately 31,000 existing communications sites in Germany, Spain, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Argentina, from Telefónica.  
• Blackrock and Grain Management on their USD1.4bn joint acquisition of a minority interest in Phoenix Tower International. 
• EdgeConneX on a range of strategically important matters across the world including market-first data center project financings in the U.S. and Chile and its joint venture with Adani in India representing EdgeConneX’s first investment into APAC. 

• 3i Infrastructure on its acquisition of Global Cloud Xchange, a leading global data communications service provider that owns one of the world’s largest private subsea fibre optic network (66,000km) across 46 jurisdictions. 
• Development Finance Institutions and Export Credit Agencies on the USD1.2bn funding for O3b Networks, the satellite venture backed by investors, including Google and SES. The project involved the launch of a satellite-based system to provide low-cost fiber-quality backhaul services to cellular, fixed-line and internet service providers. Named “African telecoms deal of the year” by Project Finance International  
• Al Yah Satellite Communications company (YahSat) on numerous matters, including its original project financing, the joint venture with Hughes Network Systems to provide commercial satellite broadband services across Africa, the Middle East and south west Asia; the acquisition of Thuraya and subsequent merger with Bayanat; and on the IPO of YahSat on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. 
• Société Générale on the USD1.8bn financing facility for the design and manufacture of Iridium Communications’ next generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT. Named “North American telecom deal of the year” by Project Finance magazine.