Our team provides specialised legal expertise in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) sector across Africa and the UAE, focusing on regulatory advisory, licensing and spectrum matters, M&A and joint ventures, data centre and infrastructure projects, fintech and digital payments, content distribution, IP protection, and high-stakes disputes to enable tech companies, telecom operators, media houses, and investors to thrive in a fast-evolving digital economy.

We support the full TMT value chain, from infrastructure deployment and licensing to platform launches, content creation, mergers, and exits, delivering coordinated pan-African solutions that integrate local regulatory insight with international standards for scalable, compliant, and innovative operations.

Our Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Expertise

The Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) sector is a key engine of economic transformation in the current times, propelled by explosive mobile and internet penetration, fintech innovation, digital content growth, 5G rollouts, satellite connectivity expansion, data centre investments, and the rise of AI and cloud services. Yet the landscape demands expert navigation of regulatory harmonisation (including data protection and cybersecurity laws), spectrum allocation complexities, foreign investment restrictions in some markets, intellectual property challenges for content and software, competition scrutiny on mergers, and evolving ESG expectations in digital infrastructure.

We deliver integrated legal and strategic advice across Africa and the UAE to a diverse client base, including:

  • Mobile Network Operators and Tower Companies
  • Fintech and Digital Payments Providers
  • Internet Service Providers and Satellite Operators
  • Media Companies, Broadcasters, and Content Platforms
  • Technology Startups, Scale-ups, and Unicorns
  • Data Centre and Cloud Infrastructure Developers
  • Investors, Private Equity Funds, and Venture Capital Firms
  • Regulators and Government Entities

Our on-the-ground presence in digital economy hubs enables clients to secure licences swiftly, execute transformative transactions, protect innovations, ensure compliance, and capitalise on convergence opportunities.

How We Help in Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (Representative Scope)

Our coordinated services span the entire TMT ecosystem, providing tailored support for your initiatives in Africa and the UAE:

  • Regulatory & Licensing: Advising on telecom licences, spectrum allocation, Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) authorisations, broadcasting permits, payment system licences, and compliance with data protection (e.g., GDPR-inspired laws), cybersecurity, and consumer protection frameworks.
  • Infrastructure & Connectivity: Structuring subsea cable landings, fibre rollout agreements, tower sharing, data centre developments, EPC contracts, and power/wheeling arrangements for digital infrastructure.
  • Mergers, Acquisitions & Joint Ventures: Handling TMT M&A, joint ventures, minority investments, and competition approvals, with thorough due diligence on regulatory assets and IP portfolios.
  • Fintech & Digital Services: Guiding payment gateways, mobile money, open banking, blockchain/crypto regulations, and cross-border remittances, including partnerships and API integrations.
  • Intellectual Property & Content: Protecting trademarks, copyrights, patents for software/tech, negotiating content licensing, distribution agreements, and addressing piracy/digital rights management.
  • Data Protection & Cybersecurity: Advising on compliance with national data laws, cross-border data flows, breach response, privacy-by-design, and cybersecurity incident management.
  • ESG & Sustainability: Supporting green data centres, renewable energy integration for telecoms, digital inclusion initiatives, and ESG reporting for investors and regulators.
  • Dispute Resolution: Representing clients in regulatory proceedings, international arbitration (ICC, LCIA), and litigation related to spectrum disputes, interconnection disagreements, competition infringements, or contractual breaches.

Why Clients Choose ALN

  • Pan-African Reach: Coordinated on-the-ground execution across Africa’s and the UAE’s digital growth markets, combining local telecom/media expertise with global transaction standards.
  • Regulatory Fluency: Deep experience in evolving TMT regulations, spectrum policy, data sovereignty, and fintech oversight to anticipate changes and secure approvals.
  • Integrated Teams: Specialists in Regulatory & Compliance, Corporate & M&A, Intellectual Property, Finance, Projects & Infrastructure, Data Privacy, and Dispute Resolution collaborate seamlessly.
  • Cross-border Delivery: Aligning African digital frameworks with international investor expectations, tech standards, and convergence trends for innovative, compliant solutions.

Representative transactions include advising:

  1. Bharti Airtel International

    As the lead Africa legal adviser coordinating transactional, regulatory (telecom and mobile money) and competition advice over 14 jurisdictions in Africa in connection with a USD 1.25 billion investment in a newly formed holding company, Airtel Africa, by six leading global investors, including Warburg Pincus, Softbank, Temasek and Singtel.

     

  2. Helios Investment Partners and Telcom Kenya (TKL)

    in connection with the merger of the second and third largest mobile telephony operators in Kenya

  3. MultiChoice Africa

    A video entertainment company in Africa, in connection with the Mauritian company effectively merging into MultiChoice Africa Luxembourg, a Luxembourg entity and the surviving entity subsequently merged into MultiChoice Africa Holdings, a Dutch company.

  4. MasterCard

    A technology company in the global payments business, in connection with provision of a push payment service in Ethiopia.

  5. Telekom Malaysia Berhad, TM International Berhad Telekom Malaysia Berhad and TM International Berhad

    In connection with their settlement of disputes relating to their 60% stake in the Guinean national telecommunications company, Société des Télécommunications de Guinée (SOTELGUI) SA, and the negotiation of a successful exit from Guinea in accordance with Telekom Malaysia’s international investment strategy.

  6. Ministry of Finance, Ethiopia

    As part of a consortium led by Deloitte Consulting, in connection with the proposed partial privatisation of Ethio-Telecom, a state-owned enterprise engaged in providing telecommunication services in Ethiopia, through the acquisition by private investors of a significant minority equity stake in the Company’s share capital.

  7. TPG Growth III

    A private equity and venture capital firm, in connection with their proposed acquisition of a 45% stake in Azam Television, a digital satellite service provider and part of Bakhresa Group, a leading Industrial House in Tanzania, with operations in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa.

  8. Ringier Africa

    One of Africa’s leading classifieds and media groups, in connection with its acquisition of the Tanzania subsidiaries of One Africa Media, including EverythingDar.com and BrighterMonday.

  1. Microsoft

    A multinational computer technology corporation, in connection with the provision of geo-hosting assessment survey, and hosting data centers in Ethiopia.

  2. Raise Impact Technologies

    in building a blockchain based platform to tokenize assets across Africa.

  3. Vodacom Group

    In connection with the acquisition, together with Safaricom, of the M-PESA pan-African money payments system.

  4. Liquid Telecommunications

    A UK based company, in connection with telecommunication laws and regulations in Sudan.

  5. Havas

    A listed leading global communications group, as lead counsel in connection with its acquisition of a 49 percent stake in two Algerian-based agencies, including GANFOOD, a creative and consultancy agency and HVS, a media agency.

  6. Helios Investment Partners and Telcom Kenya

    in connection with the merger of the second and third largest mobile telephony operators in Kenya.

  7. The shareholders of Wananchi Group Holdings

    An East African leading home entertainment operator, in connection with the proposed sale of its business

  8. IPS Cable Systems

    A subsidiary of Industrial Promotion Services Kenya, in connection with their acquisition of the shareholding of an existing shareholder in the Seacom Group, a company that owns an extensive ICT data infrastructure across the African continent and provides communications and cloud solutions to businesses, network carriers and service providers.

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