Aboitiz Group-led Unity Digital Infrastructure Inc. will enter 2024 with approximately new 1,100 tower sites.

This was after the company successfully closed 250 and 79 tower sites from Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc., respectively.

In a press statement over the weekend, PLDT-Smart disclosed that it had transferred 75 percent of the 650 sale and leaseback tower sites to Unity since it received the Philippine Competition Commission clearance in April.

The remaining assets, according to the Pangilian Group's telco company, will be transferred early next year — paving the way for the delivery and execution of the committed build-to-suit or BTS site orders.

"After having completed the transfer of more than 90 percent of the acquired towers of Edgepoint and Edotco this year, we are pleased to have likewise transferred 75 percent of the acquired towers of Unity in a short period," said Marilyn A. Victorio-Aquino, PLDT's senior vice president, chief legal counsel and corporate secretary.

Transfer balance early 2024

 "We aim to transfer the balance by early 2024 and continuously work with our partner TowerCos to strengthen connectivity nationwide," she added.

Meanwhile, Unity's chief finance officer Cheryl B. Venturina said, "the company will focus on driving colocation across our towers to help further improving digital connectivity across the Philippines."

With a pipeline of around 700 committed BTS site orders to add to its current base of 350, Unity aims to double its scale and solidify its foundation with a healthy mix of both built and acquired sites.

Unity Digital Infrastructure Inc. is a joint venture telecommunications infrastructure platform by Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, and Partners Group.