Home / Business and Politics / Saudi Tawal Takes Over United Group Towers and Begins Operations in Croatia

Saudi Tawal Takes Over United Group Towers and Begins Operations in Croatia

Stc group, the engine of digital transformation in the MENA region, announced that its subsidiary Tawal has officially commenced operations in Europe.

The announcement followed the completion of TAWAL’s acquisition of United Group’s telecommunications towers in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia on April 25, 2023, as part of stc group’s strategy for expansion and growth, and after obtaining all necessary approvals from relevant regulatory organizations.

TAWAL now owns and operates over 4,800 locations in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia, providing operational services to its new clients in these countries. This acquisition represents the second step in Tawal’s expansion plan following the launch of TAWAL Pakistan in 2022. Tawal’s total tower portfolio now exceeds 21,000 towers across five countries.

– We are excited to have launched our operations in Europe. This achievement marks an important milestone for Tawal to expand its footprint into other significant markets. By leveraging our resources and best practices, our goal is to bring even greater value to European markets by enabling our clients to operate more efficiently – said Mohammed Alhakbani, CEO of Tawal.

By capitalizing on the growth potential of the European market, particularly regarding the rollout of 5G technology and the adaptation of mobile services, TAWAL aims to provide a reliable and efficient ICT infrastructure network to all mobile network operators in these markets. TAWAL aims to bring significant investments, best processes and practices, as well as innovative products into its portfolio. The company will leverage its expertise in managing critical and robust infrastructure across Saudi Arabia to strengthen European markets by accelerating the deployment of ICT infrastructure in those markets.

– This is a very attractive transaction for United Group that allows us to free up capital from existing ancillary infrastructure assets, capitalizing on attractive valuations in the tower sector. This aligns with the divestment of numerous operators across Europe, who have been doing the same in recent years. The proceeds from the sale will be directed towards reducing the company’s debt, freeing up cash flow for future growth. We are pleased to have partnered with TAWAL, the largest provider of integrated ICT infrastructure in the Middle East and North Africa region, marking their first investment in the European telecommunications sector. This also creates new opportunities for joint growth and expansion – said Victoriya Boklag, CEO of United Group.

In addition, stc group is a driver of digital transformation, providing innovative products and services in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region, while TAWAL owns a portfolio of over 21,000 telecommunications towers across Saudi Arabia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, and Pakistan. The company actively supports digital transformation plans in these markets. It is expanding its reach into new cities and rural areas and actively introducing smart city-ready technologies, such as camouflaged telecommunications towers, smart poles that can support 5G and IoT devices, in-building solutions (IBS), along with other customized ICT infrastructure.

Tagged: