Digital infra tops LPs’ wish list

It’s a misnomer to think the covid crisis of the past 15 months is the sole reason for digital’s appeal to private capital. The digital transformation was well underway beforehand. But the pandemic has accelerated it and shone a bright light on how essential it is to be digitally connected whether you are in a central business district or in a remote rural location – it has become the fourth utility.

Consider this statistic. The GSMA estimates the number of mobile internet users will reach 5 billion by 2025, up from 3.8 billion in 2019. This requires cash. The EU Commission, for instance, estimates that the level of broadband to the home connectivity will require investment of €65 billion to €100 billion.

So, it’s hardly surprising that, amid covid lockdowns and, post-pandemic, remote working seemingly set to remain a permanent feature, private capital’s focus on digital infra has sharpened even further.