Digi sells part of its fiber optic network in Spain to Onivia for 750 million

With this operation Onivia expands its fiber coverage in the country to 10 million homes

The Romanian telecom Digi has closed the sale of part of its fiber optic network to the home (FTTH) in Spain for 750 million euros to the wholesale fiber operator Onivia, owned by Macquarie Capital, Abrdn and Arjun Infrastructure Partners, as reported the company in a statement.

Specifically, it has agreed to sell a total of 6 million fiber optic accesses, of which 4.25 million are already deployed and will be delivered at the closing of the operation, while the remaining 1.75 million will be deployed during a estimated period of three years.

"The agreement covers FTTH accesses located in 12 provinces in Spain: Madrid, Segovia, Ávila, Murcia and those that make up Castilla-La Mancha and the Valencian Community," detailed the company, which has also indicated that it will continue to use this network.

Along these lines, Digi has highlighted that it will be "directly involved" in this network throughout the entire duration of the agreement as it is the operator responsible for its maintenance globally.

The telecom has stressed that this operation will allow it to "continue innovating" and offering "any future technological advances" on this network.

STRENGTHENING INVESTMENT CAPACITY

The company has also emphasized that this agreement will strengthen its long-term investment capacity in Spain, both in digital infrastructure and in the generation of technological employment.

"Digi's existing staff dedicated to this network will continue to be part of the operator in the long term, dedicated to the deployment and maintenance of infrastructure of this network and of Digi in general," he added.

The CEO of Digi in Spain, Marius Varzaru, has concluded the agreement, which is subject to the usual closing conditions, including the relevant authorizations for foreign direct investment in Spain and control of concentration operations from the European Commission.

"We are delighted to develop our expansion in Spain alongside the consortium formed by Macquarie Capital, Abrdn and Arjun Infrastructure Partners, global references in infrastructure investment, and we are confident that our excellent relationship will allow this network to continue to be, in the long run. term, the leading fiber network in Spain in speed and technological advancement", highlighted the CEO of Digi in Spain, Marius Varzaru.

ONIVIA EXPANDS ITS COVERAGE

With this operation, Onivia will expand its fiber coverage to 10 million homes in Spain, "more than a third of those in the country," highlighted the consortium made up of Macquarie Capital, Abrdn and Arjun Infrastructure Partners.

In addition, he detailed that the operation contemplates a purchase option by the consortium of any future deployment of Digi fiber in the provinces involved, "as long as certain conditions are met."

"We created Onivia in 2019 as Spain's first independent wholesale fiber network operator. Together with our long-term co-investors, Macquarie Capital is committed to supporting the continued growth and expansion of this truly national network delivering reliable ultra-fast broadband. both rural and urban areas and both large and small ISPs," said Macquarie Capital managing director Oliver Bradley.

Meanwhile, the CEO of Onivia, José Antonio Vázquez, has emphasized that with this acquisition the company "confirms its position as the largest neutral and independent operator."