A consortium led by Actis, a prominent player in sustainable infrastructure investment, has successfully acquired Swiftnet, a leading telecom tower operator in South Africa. This acquisition secures a 100% stake in Swiftnet, representing a significant advancement in the country's digital infrastructure.

The consortium includes both international and local investors, notably the Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC), a fully black-owned South African investment firm. Together, they now hold a 70% share in Swiftnet, while Royal Bafokeng Holdings retains the remaining 30%. The deal, valued at approximately US$370 million (ZAR6.75 billion), was made with Telkom, and Swiftnet operates over 4,000 telecom tower sites across South Africa.

Under new ownership, Swiftnet plans to strengthen its partnerships with Telkom and other key tenants while expanding its services, particularly in rural areas. The company is also set to facilitate South Africa's transition from 3G and 4G technologies to broader 5G adoption.

This acquisition enhances Actis' position as a key investor in South Africa's digital economy. The firm has previously invested in Octotel, a major fibre network operator, which it exited in 2024. For MIC, this investment aligns with its strategy to diversify into sectors with strong long-term growth potential, especially in digital infrastructure.

David Cooke, Partner at Actis, expressed enthusiasm about establishing Swiftnet as South Africa's leading independent tower company. He noted the company's strong relationships with mobile network operators and its potential to meet the growing demand for internet connectivity, thereby contributing to the digital economy's growth.

Matthew McCollum, Director at Actis, highlighted the growth potential of Swiftnet's unique tower assets, which can enhance mobile coverage and accelerate 5G adoption. He emphasized Actis' experience in digital infrastructure and their commitment to driving Swiftnet's future growth.

Cynthia Pongweni, Acting CEO of MIC, emphasized the investment's significance in modernizing South Africa's telecommunications infrastructure and expanding 5G capabilities.

Actis continues to broaden its global presence in digital infrastructure, with recent investments in Connectis Tower in the Balkans and Epoch Digital, a data center platform with assets in Taiwan, Malaysia, and Korea. The firm’s digital infrastructure portfolio now boasts a combined enterprise value of approximately US$3.5 billion.

In a related development, Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure solutions, has upgraded its thermal management product line with the new Vertiv Liebert EFC free cooling unit. This unit features low-GWP refrigerant and meets stringent environmental standards for data centers, including colocation and cloud services, and is available across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The Liebert EFC combines indirect air-to-air heat exchange and evaporative cooling in one unit, enhancing annual efficiency by up to 19% compared to previous technologies. Its flexibility allows data center owners to reduce resource consumption while maintaining continuous cooling, addressing the growing demand for sustainable solutions in the industry. Sam Bainborough, vice president of thermal business EMEA at Vertiv, noted that the Liebert EFC meets customer needs for operational flexibility and resilience in sustainability strategies.