On Wednesday, DIF Capital Partners, the Dutch headquartered, global independent infrastructure investor with EUR 10 billion (about $10.5 billion) in managed client assets, announced a strategic investment in Washington D.C. based wireless infrastructure provider Airtower Networks.
This transaction will be the first investment of DIF’s CIF III fund, part of a core infrastructure fund strategy targeting equity investments in small to mid-sized core-plus infrastructure companies in the telecom, energy transition, and transportation sectors. The new funds will support Airtower’s management team with growth capital as the company strives to build a nationwide platform.
Airtower designs, builds, owns, and operates network solutions and managed services for in-building wireless and smart building connectivity. The timing of this investment coincides with increasing market demand for high-quality wireless service within the vast number of buildings that require improved coverage and capacity.
Airtower’s vision is to become the nation’s largest in-building neutral host 5G and wireless network provider. The company says it plans to achieve this by delivering innovative solutions that help building owners, property developers, enterprises, and mobile network operators manage their wireless infrastructure investments, while also helping them to produce an attractive return on their investment. Airtower’s client roster includes major commercial real estate developers, and technologically advanced government and private organizations.
“DIF believes that the ongoing trend of cloud migration, where companies store their data and interact with their customers, vendors, and partners in the cloud, will further increase the need for high-speed wireless internet connections,” said Willem Jansonius, Partner and Head of Investments for the DIF CIF strategy. “Similarly in the residential and office space, ubiquitous 5G is essential for the new generation of smart buildings. DIF is excited to partner with a well-established in-building wireless company such as Airtower and its experienced management team”
“Airtower has experienced record-breaking growth over the past couple of years in terms of revenue, new bookings, networks deployed, and profitability,” Airtower CEO Oliver Valente said in a comment on the investment. “DIF is a world class infrastructure investment fund manager, and we’ve greatly enjoyed getting to know the DIF team. We are looking forward to partnering with DIF to continue scaling the business.”
“We’re excited about the injection of investment capital and sector expertise provided by DIF. The additional resources and broad support will give Airtower the capability to rapidly scale the success we’ve had providing innovative wireless and smart building solutions for commercial real estate and cellular carriers” Airtower Founder and President Manny Dureja said.
