InfraRed Capital Partners, an infrastructure private equity firm, through the InfraRed Infrastructure Fund V, today announced that it has acquired a majority stake in Complete Technology Group (CTG), a UK provider of fiber consulting, planning, audit, and installation services to landlords, which operates via its Complete Fibre division. Through CTG, InfraRed Capital intends to “deliver” fiber optic connectivity to over 700k underserved UK homes and plans to invest up to £125m ($169m USD).
However, CTG is not a traditional UK fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) alternative network operator, given that it is not building-out its own fiber network to its 700k+ targeted UK homes. Rather, CTG notes that it is “preparing to improve the broadband capability” of these 700k homes. As such, CTG is effectively an in-building partner to the UK FTTP alternative network operators.
Complete Technology Group (CTG) – InfraRed Enables Fiber Growth
Founded in June 2020, Complete Technology Group (CTG), through Complete Fibre, designs and installs fiber infrastructure on behalf of social & private landlords and developers, including housing associations and local authorities. Specifically, CTG provides fiber connectivity to multiple dwelling units (MDUs), social, and new-build housing in underserved areas of the UK.
Operations
CTG’s services involve a single installation of multiple fiber lines within a residential building, which can provide service for that entire building. Subsequently, the company leases access to these fiber lines to different internet service providers (ISPs).
Overall, CTG serves landlords, tenants, and internet service providers (ISPs) in different ways:
- Landlords: gain a single installation of multiple fiber lines at no cost to them
- Tenants: receive access to broadband, at speeds of 1 gigabit per second, from a greater choice of providers
- ISPs: obtain easier access to homes, reduced risk of scaling up their operations, and the ability to speed up deployment. To this end, ISPs can connect their cables to residential buildings more easily and offer their services to all residents in the block
Additionally, because CTG performs only a single installation, landlords and tenants benefit from less disturbance, in comparison to multiple individual installations by broadband providers. Finally, CTG’s approach reduces fire and safety risks to a landlord’s building, materials required, and a fiber installation’s carbon footprint, as compared to traditional methods.
Expansion
InfraRed Capital’s £125m investment will enable CTG to “improve the broadband capability” of over 700k homes in the UK. Particularly, CTG’s investments are intended to provide underserved communities with access to high-speed broadband services. Additionally, InfraRed Capital’s investment will fund growth in CTG’s workforce through 100+ new hires during the next few years.
Management
Complete Technology Group (CTG) is led by Eddie Minshull as CEO.
Transaction Advisor
Complete Technology Group’s financial advisor was Amberside Capital.
InfraRed Capital Partners – Overview
InfraRed Capital Partners is headquartered in London, UK and manages $10bn+ of equity capital in multiple private and listed funds. The firm is 80%-owned by SLC Management, which is the institutional alternatives and asset management business of Sun Life Financial.
InfraRed focuses on value-add infrastructure investing globally, in both greenfield and brownfield assets. Particularly, the firm invests across the social, transportation, and renewable energy infrastructure sectors. Within digital infrastructure, InfraRed most recently made a $50m equity commitment to Public Safety Towers (PSTC), an independent tower company in the United States.
