DUBAI: British telecommunications company Helios Towers has signed a deal with Omantel to acquire 2,890 sites for $575 million from the sultanate’s largest mobile network operator.

The move signals Helios Towers’ entry to the Middle East market as a major tower infrastructure provider.

The deal is expected to bring in a $59 million bump in revenues in the first full year of operations.

It also involves a $35 million plan to add 300 new build-to-suit sites over the next seven years.

“We view Oman as a very attractive and supportive market for foreign investments, with strong growth and exciting future prospects,” the UK-based company’s chief Kash Pandya said in a statement.

He said the acquisition strengthens its business through “further hard-currency revenues and diversification” in what the CEO described as the fastest growing markets in the region.

“We look forward to working with Omantel and the other MNOs over the coming years to further develop next generation mobile infrastructure solutions and services in Oman,” he added.

The partnership reflects Oman’s FDI aspirations, Omantel CEO Tala Said Al-Mamari said, adding it will create jobs and opportunities in the country.

“This move also allows the monetization of our towers at attractive valuation levels, de-lever our balance sheet, and will accelerate network development in next generation advanced technologies,” he noted.

He said it would allow Omantel’s management to focus on innovation and product development while outsourcing infrastructure management to an independent firm.

The transaction will close by the end of 2021, and the long-term partnership will last for an initial period of 15 years.

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