Unity Digital Infrastructure Inc., a unit of Aboitiz Group, said it will spend P6 billion in 2022 to build 1,000 cell sites in Visayas and Mindanao.
“Over the next 12 to 15 months, we forecast to develop over 1,000 operating sites across the country,” Unity chief executive Robin Sarmiento said.
“The demand for this infrastructure is nationwide. We are actually rolling out in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, but for 2022, we see that much of our sites will focus on VisMin areas,” he said.
Sarmiento said the company would spend about $100,200 per tower or about P5 billion to P6 billion for the 1,000 cell sites.
Aboitiz InfraCapital formed in April this year a joint venture with leading global private market firm Partners Group, acting on behalf of its clients, to establish a telecommunications infrastructure platform called Unity Digital Infrastructure.
Through Unity, Aboitiz InfraCapital and Partners Group will build and operate telecommunication towers and supporting infrastructure across the country.
Parent firm Aboitiz InfraCapita allotted about P20 billion next year to fund various infrastructure projects.
“For next year, our capex would be around P20 billion. The bulk of our capex would be for our economic estates and our digital infrastructure business,” said Cosette Canilao, president and chief executive of Aboitiz InfraCapital.
The company’s 2022 budget would be 53.8 percent higher than P13 billion this year.
InfraCapital, the fifth core business of Aboitiz Group, handles all infrastructure investments of the company that includes water, economic estates, airports and telco towers.
“Presently, the biggest revenue contributor is from our industrial estate, but Lima Water is also contributing to our top line as well as bottom line,” Canilao said.
“Next year Unity Digital is ramping up operations and as well as Apo Agua Water. So, we expect those two business units to contribute starting the latter part of 2022,” she said.
Aboitiz InfraCapital rebranded its identity to reflect the group’s forward ambition to be the country’s top of mind in infrastructure solutions.
The company aims to further grow its business by proactively participating in project opportunities in the industrial development, water, digital infrastructure and transport sectors.
“At the beginning of the year, we set out to revamp our brand as part of our top priorities. We want to establish InfraCap as a full-fledged strategic business unit within the Aboitiz Group, with a unique, impactful and market-relevant brand identity and to be known as a reliable partner for growth, dedicated to nation-building and uplifting the lives of Filipinos,” Canilao said.