Philippines-based operator PLDT revealed it closed the sale and leaseback of 135 towers with Unity Digital Infrastructure.
This is the first closure of the deal between the two companies brokering 650 towers in total for PHP9.2 billion (US$163.8 million), first announced in December 2022.
In a statement, PLDT said it will receive PHP1.9 billion for the 135 towers that are being transferred over to Unity. It added the master service agreement leaseback arrangement for 10 years had also begun (effective May 16). PLDT will transfer the additional towers over the next few months when closing conditions are met, all towers are expected to be sent over this year.
The deal follows PLDT selling 6,000 sites to edotco and Edgepoint in April 2022. Unity also signed a deal last month to close and lease back 447 towers from Globe Telecom for PHP5.4 billion.