Helios Towers Plc (“Helios Towers”, the “Company”), the independent telecommunications infrastructure company, is pleased to announce that its infrastructure platform in South Africa, Helios Towers South Africa (“HTSA”) has attained a Level 1 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (“B-BBEE”) certification, which follows investment from private equity fund Clearwater Capital Pty Ltd in 2022.
In collaboration with Clearwater Capital, HTSA plans to increase its footprint by providing high-quality infrastructure to the telecommunications industry and expanding the reach of its mobile network operators to provide robust and effective communication tools to the people of South Africa.
HTSA has also partnered with an NGO in South Africa to help close the gap in resources between state and private education in South Africa, as well as offering practical help with career guidance and providing funding for bursaries and an ICT lab.
In keeping with the B-BBEE framework, HTSA remains committed to a high level of corporate and social investment into the communities in which it operates, whilst guaranteeing that the highest safety and security standards are adhered to.
Commenting on this partnership, Sainesh Vallabh, Regional CEO of Helios Towers, South & Central Africa said today:
“We are extremely proud to have obtained the Level 1 B-BBEE certification, which has been accomplished through the tremendous effort we have placed on empowering local talent, skills and communities; key tenets of our business model. This certification further entrenches our commitment to the growth and development of the people of South Africa, in order to forge long-lasting relationships and drive better connectivity in the region”.
Commenting on this investment, Kunaal Mehta, Executive Director of Clearwater Capital said today:
“A key attraction to this partnership is the belief that such an investment has the potential to generate significant local impact. Expanding the reach of mobile connectivity offers tremendous opportunities for all South Africans to participate in the global economy. Helios Towers’ model for developing shared infrastructure that meets the exacting needs of mobile networks enables this connectivity at scale and at a lower cost of service to create shared value for all stakeholders,” says Kunaal Mehta, Executive Director of Clearwater Capital.
