Accelerating Your Smart Investment in APAC Digital Infrastructure

This panel examines the M&A and investment outlook for fibre in APAC, focusing on evolving competition, the growing trend of telecom operators monetizing non-core infrastructure, and the continuation of carveouts and restructuring. Discussions will explore wholesale fibre market developments, opportunities in Indonesia's fibre rollout, and key considerations for investors, supported by case studies highlighting successful monetization strategies and high-potential markets in the region.

• What is the M&A and investment outlook for fibre in APAC? How is competition changing in the region?  
• Are fibre carveouts and restructuring set to continue? What is behind the growing trend of telecom operators monetizing non-core infrastructure to unlock capital? What are the key characteristics of contracts when bidding for fibre assets?  
• Examining the developments within the wholesale fiber market  
• Examining the level of opportunity remaining for Indonesia fibre rollout
• What characteristics do investors need to consider entering the APAC fibre market?  
• Exploring key case studies of fibre asset monetization and identifying APAC markets with high potential for similar opportunities 

This session explores how AI is unlocking new revenue opportunities for data centre operators, while investors increasingly turn their attention to this subsector. It will also cover the synergies created by GPU as a Service, the Infratech layer in the broader ecosystem, the advantages of Software-Defined Data Centers (SDDC), the growing role of liquid and chip cooling technologies in managing high-density infrastructure and ESG targets, and how traditional digital infrastructure players are navigating energy bottlenecks in the power industry.

• Examining how GPU as a Service is unlocking new revenue streams for datacentre operators  and how investors are looking at subsector investments
• How is the Infratech layer creating synergies in the wider ecosystem of applications and underlying core infrastructure?
• Examining the benefits of a Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC) such as agility, time reduction and policy-driven automation
• Analysing the expanding role of liquid and chip cooling technologies in managing high-density infrastructure and meeting ESG targets  
• How are traditional digital infrastructure players manoeuvring in the power industry to ease the ongoing energy bottlenecks?  

Towers and connectivity leaders discuss how the convergence of towers, fibre, edge data centres, IoT platforms, and other connectivity assets is creating new opportunities for TowerCos to diversify and drive long-term growth. It also examines key market developments in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, the impact of 5G rollouts across APAC—including Malaysia’s second 5G network—and the integration of AI into TowerCo business models to enhance operations and innovation.

• How is the convergence of towers, fibre, edge datacentres, IoT platforms and other connectivity assets emerging as an opportunity for TowerCos to diversify their offerings and facilitate long term growth?  
• What are the latest developments in key markets such as Philippines, Japan and Indonesia?  
• How is 5G rollout developing in APAC? How will a second 5G network in Malaysia influence uptake and development across the region?  
• How are TowerCos implementing AI into their business models?

This breakout session examines evolving deal structures and financing opportunities in APAC, focusing on routes to exit, the increasing role of private credit, and the impact of debt on large transactions. Discussions will delve into pricing trends across acquisitions, LBOs, and capex financing, alongside the influence of interest rate shifts and global events, such as the US election, on the region's digital infrastructure market in 2025.

• Exploring evolving deal structures in APAC and optimal routes to new financing opportunities
• Analysing strategies around the routes to exit  
• What role is private credit having in the APAC market now that local banks are maxed out? What role does debt have in large transactions?  
• What are developments across evolving pricing in crucial subsectors of acquisitions, LBOs, capex and greenfield financing?
• What impacts are interest rates having on the market in 2025, and how will the global influences (such as the US election) reverberate within the APAC region?  

Financing leaders will analyze the impact of the macroeconomic environment on M&A and dealmaking in APAC, exploring whether valuations are becoming more realistic and what the future holds for the region. We’ll examine financing opportunities such as IPOs, REIT listings, equity fundraising, and debt options that TowerCos and data centre operators are pursuing, while also exploring how access to financing, interest rates, and FX exposure are influencing growth plans.

• How damaging has the macroeconomic environment been to M&A and dealmaking in APAC? What does the future hold for the region? Are valuations becoming more realistic?  
• What financing opportunities, such as IPOs, REIT listings, equity fundraising, or debt options including project and Holdco-level loans, are TowerCos and DC operators pursuing to support growth?
• How is access to financing influencing growth plans in the region? What is the impact of interest rates and managing FX exposure? Are funds providing private credit beginning to take material market share from traditional lending banks?  
• To what extent is green financing a key aspect of investors plans?  
• What is the approach to growth via M&A as opposed through greenfield/brownfield development across APAC? 

This breakout explores the innovative strategies fueling the rapid expansion of fibre networks across the APAC region, with a specific focus on the key players and funding mechanisms shaping the sector's future. Key topics include Indonesia's fibre investment leadership, greenfield rollout trends, the impact of capital costs, and the rise of fibre carveouts to optimize balance sheets and foster strategic partnerships.

• Examining innovative approaches driving the rapid deployment of fibre networks across the APAC region
• Indonesia – Who is leading the bulk of investment into Indonesian fibre and will a wholesaler emerge by 2030?  
• Who is leading the charge for greenfield fibre rollout across APAC?
• What levels and sources of funding are being deployed and how is the cost of capital affecting rollout prospects?
• What is driving the growth of fibre carveouts in APAC? Exploring balance sheet and ROIC optimisation, reducing capex requirements, the generation of additional revenues and creating partnerships 

This session examines Johor’s potential for continued growth as a data center hub amid power and water limitations and its strategic role in US-China digital infrastructure development. Discussions will also explore the rise of Tier-II markets like Batam, the regional impact of data center growth on power and land resources, and the adoption of technologies such as water recycling and desalination to address resource scarcity challenges.

• Will Johor continue its growth, or will it be bottlenecked by limitations of water and power?  
• What is Johor’s role in US-China digital infrastructure development across APAC?  
• How are other Tier-II markets, such as Batam, emerging as key geographies in the market?  
• What impact will DC growth have on power across the APAC region? Which markets are most vulnerable? Which markets pose the greatest risk in terms of land limitation?  
• How are new technologies, such as water recycling, desalination and storage tanks, being introduced to limit water scarcity in the region – and how are operators and investors seeing this challenge?  

In this market deepdive roundtable session, we explore the emerging digital infrastructure landscape in the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. We will examine how major projects like Google's hyperscale data centre in Vietnam, along with significant investments by AWS, Google, and Microsoft in Thailand, are driving growth in digital infrastructure, global connectivity, and data services, while also assessing the impact of foreign investment on technology development and the M&A outlook for these markets in 2025.

• How will the Vietnam’s nationwide deployment of 5G by 2025 and 99% coverage by 2030, coupled with foreign ownership opportunities in the DC market, create opportunities in digital infrastructure and telecommunications?
• How will major projects like Google’s hyperscale data center in Vietnam as well as Thailand’s investments by AWS, Google and Microsoft, drive growth in digital infrastructure, and what opportunities will this create for global connectivity and data services?
• How will significant foreign investment influence the development of advanced technologies in these markets?
• What is the M&A outlook for these markets in the remainder of 2025?  

This session examines the regional M&A opportunities in the APAC telecom sector, focusing on telcos modernizing operations and leveraging data to become 'techcos.' Discussions will explore key investors driving telecom investment, the influence of joint ventures between investment firms and telcos on market dynamics, and the growing trend of telcos monetizing non-core infrastructure to unlock capital.

• Where do regional opportunities lie for M&A in the telecom sector?  
• How are APAC telcos modernizing and leveraging data? Which operators are leading the charge in becoming ‘techcos’?  
• Who is spearheading investment for telecoms in APAC?  
• How will joint-ventures between investment firms and telcos influence market dynamics?  
• Is there a trend emerging in telcos monetizing non-core infrastructure to free up capital? What is behind the acceleration of this trend?  

This breakout session explores recent deal case studies in Australia and Japan, uncovering key lessons for future transactions and identifying factors driving Australia's surge in data center investments. It examines the advantages of pan-regional DC platforms, Japan's potential as a key digital infrastructure market with untapped capital, and the challenges of land and power bottlenecks shaping its development.

• Examining recent deal case studies in Australia and Japan and what can be learnt for future transactions
• What has led to the increase in datacentre investment in Australia? What is the outlook for the rest of 2025?  
• Are pan-regional DC platforms generating advantages over national champions in countries like Australia?  
• Will Japan become the next digital infrastructure market to watch? Is there a pol of untapped capital?  
• How will the DC market develop in Japan? Will it be bottlenecked by a land of land/power?