Atlas Tower Group

AT L A S TO W E R G R O U P

Building foundations for wireless connectivity in South Africa and beyond

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The Connectivity

Catalyst Since entering the South African market in 2013, Atlas Tower has been driving wireless connectivity across the country, the firm looking to expand its reach both here and beyond Writer: Tom Wadlow Project Manager: Vivek Valmiki

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obile phones represent a lifeline for many consumers across Africa.

Far beyond simply a communication device, they are often the primary channel to get online and a critical tool to access various life-enhancing services such as finance, education, health and utilities.

Research from trade association GSMA repeatedly underlines these assertions.

In 2017, it recorded 444 million unique mobile subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa, a penetration rate of 44 percent, up from just 25 percent at the start of 2010.

This is forecast to reach 52 percent, or 634 million subscriptions, by 2025, growing at a solid annual rate of 4.6 percent.

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Perhaps even more illuminating is the prediction that data usage across the region will grow sevenfold between now and 2024, driven by a young consumer base which is triggering a profound shift in mobile engagement patterns.

These trends translate into an enticing prospect for wireless infrastructure specialists such as Atlas Tower.

Originally founded in the US by current CEO Nathan Foster in 2007, he identified the opportunity Africa presented and the role his company could play in catalysing economic development for the betterment of its citizens.

“Africa’s significant population, intense mobile subscription growth and data penetration rates are a key driver in our business,” he explains.

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Developing and maintaining long term relationships on a sustainable and competitive basis Epiglo Pty Ltd is a highly dynamic company which is involved in the civil and telecommunication construction environment.

We are highly experienced in the management, construction and completion of various disciplines in the telecommunication environment, including turnkey cellular site builds, electrical installations, tower rigging, civil installation work and piling.

OUR MISSION To design telecommunication base stations to the highest quality and specifications. In order for us to achieve our vision, we focus our attention and efforts on designing, constructing and installing turnkey equipment.

OUR VISION

OUR ACCREDITATION Proud Company All our work is done in accordance with National Construction-, Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulations and we are proud to say that our Heath Safety is of the highest standard in our industry. Epiglo Pty Ltd has an implemented quality management system (QMS) that ensures continuous quality improvements. We are currently busy with our NOSA accreditation and should be certified soon. We are also committed to protecting our environment and have an approved Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality Policy.

Epiglo Pty Ltd is a verified level BBBEE Level 1 Contributor and its vision is to empower, educate and uplift its people.

EXPERTS IN OUR FIELD Highly Experienced Group

To become the industry leaders in the construction of turnkey Telecommunication Towers, well respected by our peers, and a preferred service provider to our clients.

We are highly experienced in the management, construction and completion of various disciplines in the telecommunication environment, including turnkey cellular site builds, electrical installations, tower rigging, civil installation work and piling.

CORE VALUES

OUR PROCESS

· Scrupulous work ethics · Persistently providing outstanding quality and reliable services; · Good communication · Accountability · Respect, courtesy and fair management · Training

See How We Handle Business

WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL Our Staff From Epiglo (Pty) Ltd inception the company was staffed with highly experienced and capable personnel, well versed in the turnkey construction of infrastructure for remote telecommunication base stations.

Planning is an important part of construction as these activities help our civil teams complete the project in time and ensures that everyone is aware of what needs to be done. Mast Foundation Excavation process is the process whereby the soil is removed from a designated area where the base will be constructed Support structure The reinforcement is the main support structure in the base of the tower designed by the engineer along with the concrete. Electrical We take Responsibility for the Electrical Installation and connection from the site AC Distribution Board to the Supply Authority AC Distribution Board and the issuing of electrical certification of compliance (COC). Fencing Supply and installation of the fences or the building of brick walls surrounding the sites.

Nomathemba Mkethwa 68 Rigger Road MSI Business Park , Block E, Kempton Park T 011 394 2956,2957,2958 C 0603208388 F 011 394 2397 E info@epiglo.co.za E nomam96@gmail.com Fanie Lotz T 011 394 2958 C 082 550 0864 E fanie@epiglo.co.za

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The mobile penetration rate in Sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to reach 52 percent, or 634 million subscriptions, by 2025

“With more than a billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa, penetration rates still relatively low, and with a youthful population eager to adopt wireless connectivity, Africa provided the correct fundamentals.

“Generally speaking, Africa is skipping some steps in the traditional first world telecom and connectivity calendar – landline communication has never played as important a role in African households as it has in European and American ones. Wireless communication has therefore sprinted to the forefront and is as vital in Harare as it is in Manchester.”

Moving into international markets may not have appeared the most natural step for Atlas Tower on first glance.

The company had created a niche business with assets primarily located in affluent, difficult to build US communities, but its underlying trait of generating top-of-the-range asset

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value is what convinced Foster it would succeed elsewhere.

“In 2013, we began exploring African markets,” he continues. “While our competitors in the US were looking south, we believed southeast had more options.

“My wife and I had spent a lot of time in Africa, so the fundamental business risks that keep many of our countrymen off the continent seemed less formidable to us.”

Building wireless foundations

Foster and his team have never looked back. Today the company owns more than 1,000 macro towers around the world, with most of its portfolio residing in South Africa.

These wireless infrastructure sites serve all mobile network operators (large and small, licensed and unlicensed), with clients including Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Airtel, Orange, CellC, Rain, Liquid, and several

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smaller operators and wifi providers.

Flexibility and accountability are important hallmarks of Atlas Tower’s services, its towers built with the option to extend and adjust according to individual client requirements.

Tower site development are managed via an expansive network of offices, its 60 regional employees based in offices in Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, Nairobi, Garborone, Umthata, Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein.

This approach, combined with deep knowledge of town planning and regulatory process, is a key differentiator for Foster.

“We are company born from town planning and land development, not from corporate finance, like most,” he says. “This means we focus on fast development of modern infrastructure, not the buying and monetising of older, more antiquated towers sites.

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piglo Pty Ltd was started in 2009 by entrepreneurial businesswoman Nomathemba Mkethwa to make a difference to the people of South Africa in the telecommunications industry, and was in 2009 registered with the Department of Trade and Industry.

Epiglo Pty Ltd is a black owned company with a BBBEE Level 1 status, and celebrated its 10-year anniversary in July 2019, its reputation built on commitment, integrity, honest and hard work, executed with professionalism at all times.

We are highly experienced in the management, construction and completion of various disciplines in the telecommunications environment including turnkey cellular site builds, electrical installations, tower rigging, civil installation work and piling, which enables human interaction and connection via seamless digital communication.

The company has dedicated and talented individuals who are passionate about their work to ensure that each of our efforts leads to the success of our vision – our corporate culture is actively embraced by every team member.

We have a diverse set of knowledge, skills and competencies and firmly believe in education and the development of our people. It is through collaboration, team effort and the attachment to our vision that inspires us to deliver great results.

Epiglo Pty Ltd offers our employees the opportunity to be empowered through direct leadership access, an atmosphere of collaboration and cooperation,

mentoring, consulting and exchanging ideas, access to information and learning from each other to enhance skills and knowledge.

All our work is done in accordance with the national construction and Occupational Health and Safety Act regulations, and we are proud to say that our health and safety is of the highest standard in our industry. To this end we are managed and audited

by Bitline International, an accredited organisation.

Further, Epiglo has a quality management system that ensures continuous quality improvements and the firm is currently busy with NOSA accreditation and should be certified soon.

Epiglo is contracted to Atlas Tower USA International to build mast towers on behalf of leading and highly renowned local and international companies such as Telkom, Cell C, Vodacom and MTN. Planning is an important and integral part of construction as these activities help our civil teams complete the project in time and ensures that everyone is aware of what needs to be done. Mast foundation excavation is the process whereby the soil is removed from a designated area where the base will be constructed to support the structure.

The reinforcement is the main support structure in the base of the tower designed by the engineer, along with the concrete. The unprecedented growth in the global telecommunications sector has presented Epiglo with an opportunity to transform itself into a leading organisation.

T 0011 394 2956 / 2957 / 2958 • Cell No 0603208388 • F 011 394 2397 • E info@epiglo.co.za

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“Most competitors buy tower assets from mobile network operators, a model that we generally do not subscribe to since it does not provide enough site by site value. Thanks to our proprietary methodology, we believe we have some of the most valuable sites on the continent, positioned to be critical to the growth of the next generation of wireless networks.”

The fact that more than 60 percent of its staff hail from town planning and land development backgrounds also means Atlas Tower can be the best at manoeuvring through challenging land development schemes.

Foster continues: “Our makeup ensures we focus on the constant improvement of the land development process. We try to incubate a creative work environment, where no new idea meets resistance. We believe being creative actually promotes speed and the fastest delivery of solutions to our tenants.”

Powering people

This empowering working environment is a source of pride for

Foster and his fellow Co-Founder Randi Clendennen, who serves as Atlas Tower’s Chief Strategy Officer.

A business background stretching beyond two decades, she recognises the value in creating a vibrant workplace.

“We have a strategic approach to building a dynamic, diverse team of local professionals who are experienced, results driven and share a common passion for success and integrity,” Clendennen adds.

“We seek to build a working environment where individuals are free to be creative, innovative and implement a think outside the box approach. This is backed up with ongoing training and we ensure our team have the tools they need to provide our clients with streamlined solutions.”

The success of Atlas Tower’s venture into South Africa to date has enabled it to impart its skills in local communities, an important part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme.

Clendennen highlights how the firm is offering career development

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stablished in 2015, Oasys benefits from an ideal combination – it has compiled a team of highly experienced and capable personnel, yet it remains a highly dynamic, agile telecommunications construction company.

From its offices in Gauteng the business provides turnkey solutions across site and tower builds, RF installation, optic fibre infrastructure builds and a broad range of other maintenance services throughout Africa.

Leveraging its esteemed expertise, Oasys has successfully managed and completed numerous projects for highprofile cellular providers, each of these having been delivered in accordance with industry health and safety regulations across the continent.

CND TELECOM GROUP

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e are leaders in the Telecom industry and are working side by side with Atlas Tower to provide better and faster connections.

We are proud to be able to be one of their leading project management teams and help them to create a better future. Our Health and Safety policy is according to occupational standards, hereby providing a safe working enviroment.

We strive to provide the best service possible, with the highest regards to quality, health and safety and client satisfaction.

T +27 21 204 7947 E bertus@cndgroup.co.za

www.cndgroup.co.za

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Oasys Civils is a highly dynamic company who is involved in the civil and telecommunication construction environment. We are highly experienced in the management, construction and completion of various disciplines in the telecommunication environment, including turnkey cellular site builds, RF installations, electrical installations tower rigging (monopole, lattice and stayed), as well as optic fiber civil work and installation.

SITE AND ANCE TOWER BUILD S • RF INSTALLATION • OPTIC FIBRE INFRASTRUCTURE BUILD • MAINTEN

We have a combined experience of 30 years in the industry and we are a tower manufacturing company.

Apart from the costs and the risk to the client, it leaves a lot of space for mistakes and miscommunication.

To combat this, and to provide unsurpassed quality end products, we offer the combination of various skills, capabilities and experience to provide our clients with a single contractor, able to competently and competitively complete projects.

We are a Cape Town based company with the infrastructure which allows us to work anywhere in South Africa and surrounding countries. Our management philosophy is one of responsibility, integrity, honesty and fairness and always having the well being of our staff in mind.

Leaders in future communication A single contractor, able to competently and competitively complete projects.

• Site Surveying • Tower Manufacturing • Civil Work • Geotechnical Surveying • Tower Rigging • Electrical Work +27 21 204 7947 bertus@cndgroup.co.za www.cndgroup.co.za

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opportunities through provision of training and work experience, activities which have been extended through the establishment of the Atlas Community Enrichment and Sponsorship scheme.

“This programme is an important aspect of our business,” she says, “as we feel strongly in giving back to the

FOUNDING FIGURES Joining forces in 2007 to form Atlas Tower, here is a brief background on the Co-Founders.

Nathan Foster: Bringing more than 20 years of experience in wireless infrastructure development, Foster has spent the latter half of his career as an entrepreneur, developing scalable, high value tower portfolios in unique markets. He has successfully set up and sold several American companies and is now focussed on the expansion of Atlas Tower into European, Middle Eastern and African markets. Foster holds a B.S. Degree from University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point and an M.B.A. from Regis University.

community in which we live and work.

Our goal is to meet needs which are sustainable and support learning and care for our community.

“We have completed a number of initiatives with schools, orphanages and old age homes by providing computers and coding software, building a school classroom, providing fencing and protection, classroom desks, sports kits and building remodelling.”

Scaling new heights

It is also the ambition of Clendennen and Foster to uplift a greater number of communities not only through CSR activities, but expansion of its own tower network to enable greater levels of connectivity.

Atlas Tower is already one of the fastest-growing companies in its sector, a status enhanced by recent awards, namely the 2016 TowerXchange Industry Award for best Build-To-Suit Towerco and 2017

KINGFISH CIVIL ENGINEERING

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ingfish Civil Engineering (Pty) Ltd was originally founded in 2004. We specialise in fast track construction projects. We were able to identify a need for a company to provide a fast and efficient service within the telecommunications construction industry.

Our specialties are within the structural concrete engineering and telecommunications infrastructure industry. We are also competent in the construction of residential, commercial and industrial building.

We strive to provide value to all stakeholders involved in each project while completing all aspects of the scope in time and with the highest quality.

T 082 558 6032 E mark@kingfishcivils.com

Randi Clendennen: Drawing on 18 years’ experience developing new high-value business units, generating exponential revenue growth, and facilitating successful corporate exits, Clendennen held senior roles at several tower asset companies before establishing Atlas. She also served a stint as Executive Vice President for WiBlue, as well as holding executive positions at cancer diagnostics firms. Clendennen has a B.S. Degree from Metropolitan State College.

The success of Atlas Tower’s venture into South Africa to date has enabled it to impart its skills in local communities, an important part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme

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110 Brackenhill Road, Waterfall, KZN 3650, South Africa mark@kingfishcivils.com The Best Construction & Civil

Engineering Company in Durban

Established in 2004 as a construction and project management company specialising in fast track construction projects.

Services we render

We are flexible enough to take on almost any project presented to us because we have the skill and experience that makes us an industry leader.

• Design • Fabricate • Erect

CONTACT POWER Electrical Contracting And Maintenance Lightning Protection And Earthing Surge And Over Voltage Protection Back Up Power Systems

With 24 years plus experience in the Telecommunication industry RBI Technical Solutions international is your Integrity Solutions Partner in mitigating and managing your tower infrastructure risk portfolio.

Integrity and Maintenance Structural Inspections Tel: 031 9161987 Fax: 0866068003 Email: info@rbi-tech.co.za

www.rbitech.co.za Contact Power was established in 1988, then specializing in the field of electrical industrial maintenance, plant and factory relocation, control systems design and manufacture.

Offering our clients a complete turnkey service from the inception stage of a project such as pre-planning, design, budgeting and tendering through to the various stages of manufacture, installation, commissioning and hand over as well as after sales service and guarantee.

RBI Technical Solutions International provides the service of an Inspection Body for Steel Structures, Electrical Installations and Pressure Equipment appointed by a specific client and is used in the global telecommunication, petrochemical and storage facilities industry to ensure integrity compliance for new fabrication and In-service equipment of masts, towers, rooftops, pressure equipment and storage tanks supplemented with design evaluations, risk investigations, integrity inspections, modifications, maintenance strategies, infrastructure loading optimizations, solutions, structural and civils up-grade implementation project managment, failure investigations and IOT data base infrastructure management

CONTACT US

320 Sarnia Rd, Sea View, Durban Kwazulu-Natal Call us at: 031 4590029

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Infrastructure Company of the Year.

This solid foundation means it is wellplaced to continue expanding beyond the borders of South Africa.

“We are a licensed tower company in three other African countries,” says Foster. “Building a new tower portfolio takes time, and we are still very small outside of South Africa as building new infrastructure is a slow and patient process.

“We have learned a lot from South Africa and are using the wisdom from the last five years to make better, more long-term decisions.”

Any growth phase will require even deeper relations with suppliers, including the partners responsible for making the company’s towers.

Foster continues: “The vendors who supply our towers work in an interesting ecosystem, one that requires cheap raw steel and high production levels to maintain profitability. It’s certainly a

One of Atlas Tower’s many South African sites

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commoditised sector of our business, where in theory we can simply go to the cheapest international provider of steal towers.

“However, we have a proven, largescale, local supplier that has already introduced 10,000-plus towers to the market here in South Africa. We do also use some smaller start-up and niche manufactures that specialise in certain tower types, and I believe we have the right mix of suppliers that offset risk while achieving maximum scale value.”

This aligns with Atlas Tower’s short- and longer-term ambitions. For Foster, the year ahead is about smart and successful geographic expansion, coupled with continued incorporation of power as a service to all of its markets.

Once achieved, the socioeconomic impact of Atlas Tower will only multiply.

It is a prospect which excites Foster,

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Thanks to our proprietary methodology, we believe we have some of the most valuable sites on the continent, positioned to be critical to the growth of the next generation of wireless networks” the CEO concluding on a positive note: “We are confident about the rapid growth of our infrastructure making a real difference to the people and networks we serve. I have seen this reality with my own eyes.

“In the past, voice communication between people was the key driver for new tower locations, but today it’s more like we are building the roads (i.e. the towers) that connect people to the world’s information. So, although the car (i.e. mobile operator) one drives can change, the roads we are building will not.

“We want to give people equal access

to all the networks so they can freely pick the best one to navigate the millions of data that can inform, teach, and educate the population. The new world of wireless connectively, ultimately, will improve the economic position of people in all communities.”

Atlas Tower Group Tel: +27 21 870 1368 info.africa@atlastowers.com info.USA@atlastowers.com

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Cecilia Square, 100 Cecilia Street, Paarl South, 7646 Tel: +27 21 870 1368 info.africa@atlastowers.com info.USA@atlastowers.com www.atlastowers.com

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