Page 42 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

proposition to prime customer segments, solutions to fuel innovation and drive satellite connectivity and services, will
regionally and internationally”. Åsa efficiency and sustainability across every empower advanced IoT use cases.
Tamsons, Senior Vice President and Head sector. In addition, 5G enables automation, Predictive maintenance, connected
of Business Area Technologies and New increases safety and facilitates lower worker, augmented reality, sensor-based
Businesses at Ericsson, added: "Ericsson carbon operations. Ericsson's private monitoring, and automated guided
has introduced private 5G networking network solution, combined with Yahsat’s vehicles are some exciting examples."

Zain Jordan Agrees to Sell and Leaseback 2,607
Towers to TASC Towers for US$88 Million

Zain Group announces that its operation
in Jordan has entered into a definite 15-
year agreement to sell and leaseback
the passive physical infrastructure of
its 2,607 tower portfolio in Jordan to
TASC Towers for US$88 million. The
transaction includes an additional 223
sites transferring to TASC Towers on a
managed basis. Zain Group holds a 25%
minority stake in TASC Towers. The deal
also includes TASC Towers managing
Zain Jordan’s supporting facilities such
as power generators, fuel tanks and
protection kiosks as well as a build-to-
suit agreement allowing for a minimum
of 525 network sites to be built over the
next five years. Zain Jordan will retain its
active infrastructure, including wireless
communication antennas, intelligent
software, and intellectual property with
respect to managing its telecom network. capital and optimization of infrastructure It will also enhance operational efficiencies
TASC Towers (www.tasctowers.com), assets which will flourish under the and enable a laser focus on the operator’s
headquartered in Dubai, is an international management of an independent team. As core business and customers to offer them
tower operator focused on sale and a strategic shareholder, we are committed the best mobile and data experience in
leaseback, build-to-suit and growth on supporting TASC Towers’ regional the Kingdom of Jordan.” This transaction
capital investments in the MENEASA expansion in making it a leading operator follows similar pioneering deals with
market (Middle East, North & East Africa of telecom infrastructure.” Al Kharafi respect to 1,620 towers in Zain Kuwait
and South Asia). Bader Al-Kharafi, Zain added, “The deal gives Zain Jordan greater and a recent announcement in Zain Saudi
Vice-Chairman of Group CEO said: “This flexibility to invest in network upgrades Arabia to sell its 8,100 tower infrastructure.
transaction is consistent with Zain’s and cutting-edge ICT technologies to meet FTI Capital Advisors acted as exclusive
‘4Sight’ strategy to create significant value the ever-increasing demand for reliable financial advisor to Zain Group on this
for shareholders through the unlocking of broadband access and data consumption. transaction.

42 NOV-DEC 2021