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Tampnet
NorwayCommunications
Overview
Tampnet is the leading independent offshore communications network operator in the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It is headquartered in Norway, with operations in the UK, Scandinavia, Netherlands and the USA.
Tampnet provides high speed, low latency and resilient data connectivity enabling the digitalisation of offshore industries. Its unique network includes over 5,400km of fibre optic cables, 200 microwave links, 600,000 km2 of 4G/5G coverage and connects to 40 data centres in 12 European and American cities and central hubs. It operates across four main business areas: fixed installations, mobile rigs and vessels, roaming for offshore workers and international onshore carriers. The majority of its business involves providing fixed fibre links to the offshore energy industry with significant growth coming from emerging digital use-cases and new offshore markets.
Recent developments
Tampnet delivered performance ahead of expectations, achieving EBITDA outperformance despite challenging conditions in the UK North Sea. Demand for high-capacity connectivity continues to grow, driven by AI-enabled operations, robotics and predictive maintenance.
Tampnet remains the only independent fibre operator in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico. While these are mature basins, they continue to offer growth opportunities through connecting new exploration sites and providing digitalisation services. The company is also expanding into adjacent offshore markets, including carbon capture. During the year, Tampnet signed a project with Porthos in the Netherlands and is working with other customers on connectivity solutions for planned carbon capture, usage and storage developments.
Fibre remains the preferred backbone for mission-critical offshore connectivity, with low Earth orbit (‘LEO’) solutions emerging as a complementary layer for resilience and non-critical traffic. Tampnet’s integrated fibre and LEO offering supports customer retention, enables upselling and broadens its addressable market. The Private Networks segment continues to grow, with 27 networks installed and contracts secured for a further 22.
Investment Rationale
3i Infrastructure acquired 50% of Tampnet in March 2019 alongside Danish pension fund ATP, having committed to invest in July 2018.
- Tampnet’s fibre optic links provide customers with mission-critical reliable communications
- Benefits from the growing requirement for high bandwidth and low latency in data networks
- More than 50 customers including oil and gas operators, offshore service providers and telecom operators
- Opportunity to grow into new segments such as offshore wind, commercial vessels and the point-to-point carrier segment
Sustainability
Tampnet is leveraging its infrastructure and expertise in connectivity and digitalisation to support an array of growing sectors offshore. This year Tampnet has entered the carbon sequestration market by supporting a number of North Sea projects in their design phase, enabling them to connect to Tampnet's network as soon as they go live. Additionally, Tampnet acquired dasNetz, a leading provider of offshore wind connectivity in the German part of the North Sea, as part of a strategy to continue expanding in offshore wind and renewables.
Key facts1,200km offshore cable system acquired in 2020>50 customers in multiple sectorsWorld’s largest offshore high-capacity communication networkDeal teamView bioBernardo Sottomayor
Managing Partner, Head of European Infrastructure
Europe / InfrastructureView bioOscar Tylegård
Partner
Europe / InfrastructureView bioChris Rowland
Director
Europe / InfrastructureView bioAlexi Kirilenko
Director
Europe / InfrastructureView bioLorenz Woelfel
Associate Director
Europe / InfrastructureView bioMarkus Abeler
Associate
Europe / Infrastructure