TMT M&A Forum APAC 2024

Leaders across the telecom and digital infrastructure investment landscape explore the pivotal strategies and insights essential for navigation the next era of growth across APAC. As the region grows as a focal point for developments, this session will delve into innovative approaches that operators and investors must adopt to stay ahead of the curve and capitalise on the increasing demand set for the region. 

• What are the prospects for growth across telecoms and digital infrastructure in APAC?
• What impact will AI have on business models and investment strategies? What other emerging trends and disruptive technologies are shaping the future of the industry? 
• Deep diving into opportunities within MNOs, fibre optics, towers, datacentres and tech services. 
• How are transactional frameworks changing, and how does access to financing influence these shifts? 

Despite continued difficulties relating to access to financing, shifts in valuations and interest rates, digital infrastructure in APAC remains robust. Dealmaking leaders discuss their outlook for the rest of the year and what strategies they are applying to navigate through the challenges.

• What is the M&A and financing outlook for H2? Which deals, subsectors and regions are emerging as the most promising? 
• Which major trends are on the horizon that will influence deal flow? 
• How is access to financing and shifts in valuations influencing the M&A landscape?  
• How are infrastructure and PE funds strategising the structure of digital infrastructure platforms in APAC and which pathways lead to successful exits?  

Fibre investment continues to play out as one of the hottest topics across digital infrastructure in APAC. The need for connectivity across markets has led to intensified rollout and monetisation strategies from operators. Leaders from the space discuss the rapidly evolving environment. 

• What is the M&A outlook for fibre in APAC?  Where is the bulk of investment happening and who is leading the charge?
• How have major broadband operators, especially in countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines, intensified ‘fiberisation’ to keep up with the growing demands of high-speed and reliable broadband?
• Examining different fibre monetisation strategies across the region and their outcomes
• Are we likely to see an increase in fibre carveouts across APAC? 

Tower operators continue to seek new paths to growth as they expand into new markets and look at new business strategies. Leaders from across the sector look at operational approaches, ESG initiatives, 5g penetration, telecom asset spin offs and the pipeline for M&A and investment. 

• Access to financing 
• 5G penetration outlook in APAC
• How are telco asset spin offs impacting the tower market?
• How have priorities changed for APAC TowerCos?
• Is there a shift towards capex saving? 

Investment continues to pour into Asia’s datacentre market to capture the opportunities to build and scale hyperscale and colocation assets. This wave seems to increase as excitement grows around the potential that generative AI could have on datacentres, whilst expanding ESG initiatives are also a key focus for operators and investors. Key players in the sector discuss the outlook going forward.

• Which countries are datacentre M&A deal activities taking place and why? What deal structures are we seeing? What capital is available for funding the growth of DC platforms? 
• Examining generative AI’s impact on the datacentre industry’s investment growth
• How are hyperscalers and enterprise partnerships driving build demand across APAC? 
• What innovative ESG initiatives are being introduced in APAC datacentres and how will they impact investment? 

Rising interest rates, shifting valuations and high multiples have led to a disruptive financing environment across digital infrastructure in APAC. Leaders from across the region discuss these challenges and solutions they’ve implemented as they set their sights on growth. 

• How damaging has the current macroeconomic environment been to digital infrastructure M&A and dealmaking in APAC? How is access to financing and shifts in valuations influencing the M&A landscape? 
• What strategies have been implemented to deal with the headwinds? 
• How are deal structures changing in APAC? What are the best routes to new financing? 
• What impact are current interest rates having on increased debt costs and the utilisation of project financings via local banks?