Login Search Infrastructure Equity Credit About Team ESG News Careers Contact Sector – Digital infrastructure Case study View all investments Sector overview Approximately 5% of our portfolio is invested in fiber and fixed- wireless infrastructure for residential and commercial use, including projects in Canada, the UK, Finland and France. We believe broadband internet access now sits alongside electricity and water as a core utility, and DIF investments are paving the way for million more people to gain access to quality broadband. It is an infrastructure that is changing how work gets done, reducing the need to travel and catalysing more energy efficient lifestyles from smart heating systems, to tele medicine and home schooling. 340 Jobs created across fiber projects in France, Finland and Canada 170,000 Citizens with improved access to online healthcare and other facilities thanks to Adola and Valley Fiber projects 9,500km Of total fiber to be laid in French and Canadian cities alone by our investments ESG impacts Fiber networks serve as a key piece of infrastructure for faster, more reliable internet access – making a significant contribution to both economic development and the low carbon transition. Benefits emerging from some of our fiber projects include: Enabling more home working – Projects such as ADTIM in France and Adola in Finland are bringing high quality telecomms to historically underserved communities. This is enabling more flexible working which is proving so vital in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as healthcare provision over the internet, bringing online learning to previously excluded pupils and helping the elderly connect with their families. Job creation – Just two projects, IELO and Valley Fiber, have created, or are creating, over 340 jobs directly, including laying networks and fixing wireless towers. These catalyse many more indirect jobs by connecting businesses and local people to the digital marketplace. Reducing energy consumption – Fiber uses up to twelve times less energy than the copper required for DSL and cable Internet. It also serves as key piece of infrastructure for enabling the ‘internet of things’, a digital future where devices can automatically connect to drive energy efficiency savings estimated by McKinsey to be worth $64 billion. Biodiversity conservation – Fiber has a minimal impact on nature. It is primarily made of glass from naturally occurring silicon found in sand, clay, rocks – avoiding the need for often-harmful copper mining. “Fiber networks might well prove to be the most impactful of all infrastructure investments. They are catalysing more sustainable ways of working, transforming homes and communities and are the fundamental bridge to a greener digital future.” Frank Siblesz, Head of ESG, DIF Capital Partners Further case studies Previous Loimua (utility district heating) – Heating up the race to net zero in Europe’s coldest climate Velfra – Reshaping lives and healthcare in Norway Next Netherlands (HQ) +31 20 717 3151 Australia +61 2827 89790 Canada +1 437 538 3873 Chile +56 2 2402 4929 France +33 1 7170 4040 Germany +49 69 7191 8970 Luxembourg +352 26 27 21 22 Spain +34 91 737 87 78 United Kingdom +44 20 3873 2333 United States - © 2021 Disclaimer