Author: tswitala
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BEADs fiber first approach is not wrong, but it could do with an adjustment.
Recent remarks by the newly appointed U.S. Commerce Secretary, emphasizing a “dire need for readjustment” and prioritizing “lowest cost” deployment, seem somewhat short-sighted. While cost efficiency may yield short-term gains, infrastructure investments should not be made solely to address immediate needs. Instead, they must be designed with the future in mind. Fiber deployments require significant…
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Enabling Private Sector Investment Through Policy and Public Support
I recently completed a mission for the World Bank in South Asia, where I used the Digital Gap Assessment Framework (DGAF) to analyze how the public and private sectors can collaborate to close the digital divide. This framework offers a structured approach to identifying investment opportunities that can expand digital connectivity, while also defining the…
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𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 $𝟱𝟬𝟬𝗕𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
This is an insightful article highlighting the impact this enormous investment will have on the sector. I believe it will materialize in some shape or form, but certain factors must align to make this a reality. In summary: Capital, Power, and Supply. 𝟭. 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹The stakeholders—SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX—have the track record and credentials to…
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Is Starlink destroying value in the telco value chain and will they slowly boil the frog?
Is Starlink emerging as a significant market player, disrupting competition, and potentially raising prices over time (“boiling the frog”). Over the past few weeks, I had the opportunity to visit Africa, attending AfricaCom in Cape Town and spending time in Ghana with former colleagues in the broadband sector. A recurring topic of discussion was Starlink…
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AfricaCom – On My Own, but Not Alone
First time attending AfricaCom in my new role on my own. It was an incredible few days at AfricaCom, engaging with ex-colleagues, new partners, existing and potential clients. The event is undoubtedly a fantastic platform to exchange big ideas, learn from each other, and explore new opportunities for collaboration. I strongly believe in the power…
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Digital Infrastructure unlocking Development Finance Institutions initiatives in emerging markets.
I enjoy working with like-minded people who view digital infrastructure as a key enabler in emerging markets, and I am amazed by how cooperative and supportive the European Development Finance Institutions are. I hosted together with Detecon a two-day workshop with BII, DEG, EBRD, Finnfund, KFW-IPEX, and Proparco, covering a broad range of topics. On…
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Sell-Side Due Diligence: The Smart Way to Get Ready and Be Prepared for an Upcoming Transaction!
Being prepared and ready for a potential deal as a digital infrastructure seller or when raising funds can add substantial value. Sell-side due diligence provides an outside-in view, offers additional input to support and challenge your valuations, identifies potential risks and solutions, and helps set a narrative that potential investors or acquirers can buy into.…
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Timing and Adoption Is Key in Setting a Strategy: My Opinion on Crown Castle Selling Its Fiber Assets
I don’t believe Crown Castle had the wrong idea when it embarked on acquiring fiber assets and diversifying its tower business into fiber and small cells. The strategic decision to diversify the traditional tower business into nascent sectors is not new. However, I think they were early adopters but missed the strategic timing. This led…
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More Subsea Cables will not solve the resiliency issue
Building more subsea cables alone will not solve the resiliency issues in transcontinental connectivity. Diversity of new infrastructure and connectivity technology is required to ensure that resiliency is met. Subsea cables are integral to our daily lives, economy, and global connectivity. However, they are vulnerable to numerous risks and can have cascading effects on connectivity,…
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Are you conducting a thorough commercial and technical due diligence when financing Data Centers via a Private Placement?
Data center projects are becoming more capital-intensive, with demand for these facilities rapidly increasing. There are various ways for investors to fund data centers, and private placement is one of the quickest methods to raise funds from pre-selected, qualified investors. This method is relatively unregulated, so qualified investors must manage their own risks by ensuring…
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