Unity Digital Infrastructure, in partnership with Visayan Electric Company (VECO), has hosted three mobile network operators in one of its cell sites in Cebu.
Unity, a joint venture between Aboitiz InfraCapital and global private markets firm Partners Group, through collaboration with VECO, put on air Globe Telecom Inc. as the anchor tenant, along with Smart Communications Inc. and DITO Telecommunity Corp. as co-location tenants in a single tower — showcasing the shared tower model at work in adherence to the Philippines’ common tower policy.
Unity has acquired a total of 1,100 towers from Smart-PLDT and Globe through sale and leaseback agreements sealed recently.
Globe announced the first closing of the sale of 115 towers to Unity. The transaction, valued at approximately P1.4 billion, marks the initial phase of a larger 447 sale-and-leaseback deal between the two companies that was signed last May.
“Our transaction with Unity is crucial in propelling the advancement of the country’s digital transformation. This partnership unlocks capital, and allocates resources more efficiently. This will in turn allow us to focus on expanding and enhancing our digital infrastructure,” said Carlo Puno, Globe vice president for corporate finance.
Last May, PLDT also transferred the first batch of 135 towers to Unity as part of a similar sale-and-purchase agreement involving 650 towers in the Visayas and Mindanao regions signed last year.
This brings to over 1,000 the total combined towers acquired by Unity from the two giant telcos, further expanding its digital tower footprint across the country.
Unity said these developments are part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the country’s digital infrastructure space, supporting Filipinos in adapting to the fast-changing and ever-evolving digital landscape.
“Our recent acquisitions of towers through a Sale & Leaseback with Smart-PLDT and Globe have been transformative for Unity. We look forward to setting up these acquired sites for co-location as we do our part in enabling connectivity and expanding coverage throughout the country,” said Robin Sarmiento, Unity Digital Infrastructure chief executive officer.
