Digital infrastructure

With the growing generation of digital information there is an ever-increasing demand for the infrastructure that underpins it, and the rise of the smart city and connected interactions continue to drive opportunities to build, buy, sell and finance digital infrastructure assets.

Stephenson Harwood has an impressive track record of advising clients on a broad range of activities across the telecommunications and digital infrastructure industry. We act for a wide spectrum of clients, including multinational and domestic operators, private equity and venture capital funds and banks in connection with the sector across all of our regional offices.

Our expertise

Our team has a wealth of technical and regulatory knowledge and is able to assist with a broad range of legal issues relating to digital infrastructure development, investments and sales.

We can assist with:

  • Data centres and networks
  • Cloud services and software
  • Telecommunications 
  • Digital money and payment
  • Internet backbone and broadband
  • Enterprise portals, platforms, systems and software
  • APIs and integrations

Experience

Finnfund 

Advising Finnfund on its investment in KaiOS Technologies, the leading mobile operating system for smart feature phones, to help bring affordable mobile connections to Sub-Saharan Africa and work towards boosting digitalisation. This investment is classified as a 2X Challenge eligible gender investment, supporting women to close the digital divide that exists across lower-middle income countries. We also advised Finnfund on its investment in the telecom tower sector in Indonesia. 

Data centre infrastructure

Advising an international data centre infrastructure developer providing large-scale assets (500MW in the UK and Ireland) to support the growing global demand for data and computing resource. We supported the client on the whole project lifecycle, including on the development, property, investment and colo-contracting workstreams. 

Acquisition of audio-visual (AV) integration specialist

Advised Aura, the workspace technology solutions specialist, on its acquisition of Reflex, the AV integration specialist. 

Acquisition of stake in integrated technology solutions company

Advised Bowmark Capital on its investment in Focus 4 U Ltd, a provider of integrated technology solutions to more than 15,000 businesses.

Cisco 

Advised on various legal issues relating to its activities in Indonesia and recently, in connection with its supply and installation of nationwide WiFi projects with a telecommunications provider.

Acquisition of stake in cloud and data migration company

Advised FPE Capital on its investment in Egress, a cloud and data migration specialist.

Acquisition of stake in business applications and cloud services platform and technology consultancy

Advised FPE Capital on its investment in Codestone a business applications and cloud services platform, and on Codestone's subsequent acquisition of Clarivos.

Campana Group

Advised a regional broadband sub-sea capacity provider and owner of the MYTHIC cable, on regulatory issues relating to its fibre optic sub-sea cable between Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Myanmar.

Acquisition of stake in cloud services provider

Advised Pelican Capital on its investment in Atech, a UK cloud service provider.