Triple Point’s Digital 9 Infrastructure PLC buys submarine cable operator Aqua Comms

April 5, 2021

While the fund is publicly traded, Aqua Comms says it will continue to operate as a privately owned company.

Aqua Comms DAC, which owns and operates the America Europe Connect-1 (AEC-1), America Europe Connect-2 (AEC-2), and CeltixConnect-1 (CC-1) submarine cable systems, revealed last week that it had been purchased the digital investment trust Digital 9 Infrastructure PLC, which is managed by Triple Point Investment Management LLP. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. While the fund is publicly traded, Aqua Comms says it will continue to operate as a privately owned company.

“The acquisition by Digital 9 will facilitate Aqua Comms in delivering on its vision of efficient infrastructure ownership and deployment to the widest possible market through its carrier-neutral approach,” commented Aqua Comms CEO Nigel Bayliff. “It will allow us to accelerate our expansion into new systems and new products in both the Atlantic and new geographies. With the majority of the board unchanged, and with our management and operating teams remaining the same, we will continue to pursue our growth ambitions with the secure backing of a specialist investor.”

Digital 9 Infrastructure (D9) takes its name from the fact that it seeks to invest in infrastructure projects in line with the clean power mission of UN Sustainable Development Goal 9, i.e., “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.” Its contemplated targets range from fiber networks to data centers and mobile network towers and small cells.

“We have collectively experienced the digital transformation in our society over the last few decades (and particularly in the last 12 months), and we believe we are at the dawn of a broader transformation. D9 is focused on global investment into the critical infrastructure driving this unstoppable force of change, and D9 is therefore delighted to complete its acquisition of Aqua Comms as the initial cornerstone investment for this new fund,” stated Thor Johnsen, head of digital infrastructure at Triple Point Investment Management.

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About the Author

Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave

Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.

Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.

He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.

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