A consortium led by global sustainable infrastructure investor Actis has successfully acquired a 100% stake in Swiftnet, a prominent telecom tower platform in South Africa, from Telkom, for an enterprise value of approximately $370m.
The platform operates a portfolio of over 4,000 telecom tower sites across the country.
The acquisition includes a mix of both international and local investors, notably the Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC), a 100% Black-owned South African investment holding company – which seeks to enhance its portfolio with assets poised for growth within sectors benefiting from structural trends, such as digital infrastructure.
As a result of the deal, the Actis-led consortium now holds a 70% stake in Swiftnet, with Royal Bafokeng Holdings owning the remaining 30%.
The deal positions Swiftnet for continued growth as it aims to emerge as the leading independent tower company (TowerCo) in South Africa, expanding mobile network coverage into underserved rural areas and driving the country’s transition to 5G technology.
Swiftnet will also maintain strong relationships with key tenants, including Telkom, to continue its growth trajectory.
This transaction further Actis’s reputation as a leading investor in South African digital infrastructure, following its successful exit from Octotel, a fibre network operator in the Western Cape, in 2024. The acquisition is also part of Actis’ broader strategy to expand its global digital infrastructure investments, following recent deals such as its investments in Connectis Tower in the Balkans and Epoch Digital, a data centre platform across Asia.
