Zain Group and Ooredoo Group have completed the first closing of their regional telecommunications tower transaction, bringing approximately 4,000 towers in Kuwait and Qatar into a jointly owned infrastructure platform. The transaction combines the tower assets of Zain Kuwait, operated through International Telecommunications Company (ITK), and Ooredoo Qatar, through Al Abraj. The new platform is jointly owned by Zain Group and Ooredoo Group, with each company holding a 50% stake. Announced on October 22, 2026, the development marks the initial phase of a broader regional infrastructure strategy aimed at creating a dedicated operating model for passive telecommunications assets. The companies expect the platform to generate value through greater scale, improved capital efficiency and a more focused approach to managing tower infrastructure. Rather than requiring each operator to independently manage all aspects of its passive infrastructure, the arrangement is intended to create opportunities for shared infrastructure services while allowing the telecom groups to continue operating their own networks. Additional tower portfolios are expected to be incorporated progressively, subject to closing conditions, regulatory approvals and other applicable requirements.
The initial portfolio brings together infrastructure from two important Gulf telecommunications markets. Mobile towers provide the physical locations and supporting structures required to host antennas and other equipment used in wireless communications. Managing these assets at scale can create opportunities to improve utilisation, streamline operations and reduce duplication where infrastructure-sharing arrangements are commercially and technically suitable. Through the new platform, Zain and Ooredoo aim to develop a dedicated business focused on passive telecommunications infrastructure and the delivery of infrastructure-as-a-service. Under this model, telecom operators can access infrastructure through service arrangements rather than bearing the full cost and operational responsibility of owning and managing every asset themselves. Such arrangements can help operators allocate capital towards other priorities, including network upgrades, service development and the expansion of connectivity. However, the financial and operational benefits will depend on the platform’s management, the terms of infrastructure access and the integration of additional portfolios. The companies have not disclosed the full financial terms of the initial transaction or a detailed timetable for subsequent integrations.
Zain Vice-Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer Bader Al-Kharafi described the first closing as an important step in the evolution of digital infrastructure for both groups. He said the initiative reflects a shared strategy to create scalable platforms that can generate greater value from existing assets while supporting more sustainable infrastructure operations. Ooredoo Group Chief Executive Officer Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo also highlighted the milestone, noting that the platform has a path to expansion through the contribution of tower portfolios from additional markets. The transaction forms part of a wider strategy to develop infrastructure businesses across different segments of the digital ecosystem. For telecom operators, passive infrastructure can represent a significant investment requirement, particularly as data consumption rises and networks require continued expansion and modernisation. A shared tower platform can provide a structure for consolidating these assets while allowing operators to retain control of their active network operations. The companies have also acknowledged the role played by regulatory authorities in Kuwait and Qatar in supporting the approval process for the initial closing.
Despite combining the initial tower portfolios, Zain and Ooredoo will retain their respective active telecommunications infrastructure, including the technology, software and intellectual property needed to operate and manage their networks. This distinction separates the ownership and management of passive assets, such as tower structures, from the equipment and systems that deliver mobile services to customers. The platform’s expansion will depend on the progressive integration of additional tower portfolios and the completion of required regulatory and contractual processes. If implemented as planned, the model could create a larger regional infrastructure business serving operators through shared facilities and service arrangements. It may also provide a framework for further collaboration across markets where both groups have a presence. For the wider telecommunications sector, the transaction illustrates a growing industry focus on infrastructure-sharing models as operators seek ways to manage investment costs while maintaining network development plans. The initial inclusion of approximately 4,000 towers establishes the platform’s starting scale, while its longer-term reach will depend on subsequent integrations, operational execution and demand for infrastructure-as-a-service across the region.
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