Accelerating digital infrastructure investment strategies
28 - 29 January 2026 / Convene 133 Houndsditch, London
Agenda 2025
09:00 – 09:15
Opening Visionary Keynote Speech - The Government's Role in Supporting Digital Infrastructure Investment
Speaker
Sir Chris Bryant, Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms, DSIT - UK Gov
09:15 – 09:55
Towers & Wireless Infrastructure Leaders: M&A, Delayering & Investment Opportunities
Moderator
Elles Houweling, Features & Special Content Editor, TMT Finance
Speakers
Charles Duntze, VP Corporate Development, Phoenix Tower International
Vincent Cuvillier, CSO, Cellnex Telecom
Igor Leprince, Group CEO, Boldyn Networks
Christian Hillabrant, CEO, Vantage Towers
Towers and connectivity leaders discuss what remains in the pipeline for 2025, and how supportive are the capital markets for remaining deals? Which markets appear the strongest? How will industry consolidation shake up competition? What can be learnt from successful delayering case studies?
09:55 – 10:10
Visionary Keynote Speech - UK Fibre Consolidation – Who Will Fire The Starting Gun?
Speaker
Tom Miller, Partner, AlixPartners
UK fibre market conditions, combined with increased competition intensity and challenged commercialisation created the perfect storm during 2024, as Altnet providers relied on equity funding in place of challenging debt markets. Will this continue through 2025 or will stakeholders’ objectives align to fire the long awaited consolidation starting gun?
10:10 – 10:50
European Connectivity Leaders: Deal Opportunities & Investment to Support Increasing Bandwidth Demands
Moderator
Maisie Clarke, Senior Reporter, TMT Finance
Speakers
Katherine Alexakis, CFO, euNetworks
Colman Deegan, CEO, Zayo Europe
Alex Goldblum, CEO, Eurofiber
11:20 – 12:00
Datacentre Leaders: Future Proofing Datacentres for AI Investment
Moderator
Joshua Gray, Partner, Covington
Speakers
Doug Loewe, CEO, Kao Data
Roger Sueess, CEO, Green Datacenter AG
Tate Cantrell, CTO, Verne
Philip (Pip) Squire, Head of Sustainability, Ark Data Centres
Antton Achiary, Associate Partner, PMP Strategy
With significant growth set to continue for datacenters, operators who can consume this growth are set to differentiate themselves from their competition. As energy constraints continue to remain a bottleneck on potential growth, how are operators reinventing their technology, power resources, and greenfield projects to prepare for the future? How are investors analysing these changes?
11:20 – 12:00
Financing the German Fibre Roll-Out – Quo Vadis?
Moderator
Clara Oliver-Amorim, Debt Reporter, TMT Finance
Speakers
Klaus Hoelbling, EMEA Leader, TMT Partner & Managing Director, AlixPartners
Johanna Reinkemeier, Executive Director, LBBW
Chris Hogg, Director, OMERS Infrastructure
Fiber companies in Germany have raised billions of euros in recent years to finance the rollout of fiber network technology across the country. As much of the funds have been put to work already, many FiberCos are looking for (re)financing options currently or will have to start doing so shortly. However, business plans have come under increased scrutiny by shareholders and lenders, as operators are facing numerous macroeconomic and operational challenges that are impacting profitability and overall viability of the original business plans. With first cashless (“1€ deal”) transactions that have taken place recently, lenders and shareholders are re-evaluating their stakes in the German Fiber market. AlixPartners will provide insights from recent primary market research and panelists will discuss what is necessary from a lender and shareholder perspective to secure financing for the German Fiber rollout going forward.
11:20 – 12:00
What Impact is AI Having on Value & Growth in Enterprise Cloud & Managed Services?
Moderator
Solange Rollheiser, Independent Consultant
Speakers
Andrew Belshaw, CEO, Gamma Communications
Daan De Wever, Group CEO, Dstny
Jon Runyan, Co-Founder & COO, Armada
12:00 – 12:40
Satellite Infrastructure - The Next Digital Frontier?
Moderator
Antoine Grenier, Partner, Global Head of Space, Analysys Mason
Speakers
Jean-Hubert Lenotte, CSO, Eutelsat
Martijn Blanken, CEO, Neo Space Group (NSG)
Mark Boggett, Co-Founder and CEO, Seraphim
Stewart Sanders, EVP, New Systems Execution, Product & Innovation, SES
Satellite development has been steadily increasing over the last decade. Satellite R&D is expansive, Direct to Device (D2D) continues to develop as an area of interest for telcos, strategic investment is growing and 2024 saw the acquisition of Intelsat by SES. Will satellites become the next frontier for digital infrastructure investment?
12:00 – 12:40
Digital Infrastructure in the Middle East: Outward & Inward Investment Strategies
Moderator
Richard Keenan, Partner, Covington
Speakers
Emmanuel Leonard, CIO, TAWAL
Umesh Kumar, Director of M&A, e&
Gulfraz Qayyum, Head of Communications Banking, Citi
Leading players in Middle East digital infrastructure meet to discuss the level of opportunity in the Middle East for digital infrastructure, including the outlook for M&A and financing in the region, understanding the Middle East as a global hub for East to West connectivity, and the innovative technologies being utilised in the region.
14:00 - 14:40
Financing Digital Infrastructure Leaders: Identifying Opportunities for Growth and Investment
Moderator
Duncan Hubbard, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
Speakers
Chester Reid, CFO, Yondr Group
Pablo Riestra, SVP Infrastructure and Energy Capital, Macquarie Capital
Joachim Sonne, Independent TMT Advisor, Telco Board Member
Christian Lesueur, Managing Director, Global Head of TMT Investment Banking, UBS
In the current macroeconomic environment, deal structures and the financing ecosystem are rapidly evolving, prompting new strategies and approaches. Across digital infrastructure, certain areas are seeing heightened activity, signaling where opportunities may lie, whilst private credit continues to play a significant role in the market, leading to shifts in how traditional lenders are responding to the changing landscape. New forms of financing are also emerging, including asset-backed securities (ABS), ESG-linked notes, and other innovative structures, reflecting a broader transformation in how deals are structured and financed. This panel will explore these trends and provide insights into the future of deal-making.
14:40 – 15:20
UK Fibre Leaders: What Impact is Capital Availability Having on Fibre Build, Business Strategies and Strategic M&A?
Moderator
David Strauss, Principal, BSP Technical Advisors
Speakers
Matthew Hare, CEO, Zzoomm
Tim Creswick, CEO, Vorboss
Stefan Stanislawski, CEO, Connect Fibre
With much of the available debt in the UK being hoovered up by those with the strongest rollout and customer numbers, capital availability continues to significantly impact UK altnets. In a rash to become cash flow positive, how are operators implementing new strategies to stay afloat amidst the difficult conditions, and which are working? This panel will hear from altnets on scaling back their build, focusing capital on winning customers, or strategic M&A plays. How will the Telecoms Access Review (TAR) impact pricing for the altnets? Will the UK government have an increased view on M&A?
18:00 - 23:00
TMT M&A Awards EMEA 2025
Please Note: This is a separately ticketed event.
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