As Southeast Asia’s digital infrastructure landscape continues to evolve, EdgePoint is quietly building a steady, resilient path of growth. Suresh Sidhu, CEO and founder of EdgePoint, is at the helm, guiding the company through the complex dynamics of mobile network expansion, co-location, and emerging technologies.
At this stage of EdgePoint’s growth, Sidhu explains, the company’s priorities are clear: “It’s very much about building and sustaining an organic growth engine. That’s both build-to-suit and co-location. Obviously, we hope for a lot of co-locations, but the markets still have a lot of build left in them.”
Sidhu indicates that growth differs across the region. In the Philippines, operators are expanding coverage through traditional builds, whereas Malaysia is focused on densification and 5G expansion in buildings. “You have to follow the market a little bit,” he notes. “You can’t really influence an MNO’s CapEx cycle – you need to understand it and work with it. Growth comes over three-to five-year cycles, not in short-term spikes.”
While fluctuations in demand are inevitable, Sidhu sees the sector as stable. “Rolling out wireless infrastructure isn’t something you can do overnight. It’s steadier, slower growth than data centres, but more predictable. The three- to five-year picture has been positive historically, and we expect it to continue.”
Looking at organic growth relative to five years ago, Sidhu points out that the percentage growth may appear slower, but absolute infrastructure requirements remain robust.
“High single-digit growth across our countries is still very attractive. Even if percentage growth slows, the absolute amount of new infrastructure is fairly constant.” He also highlights how mergers in markets like Indonesia temporarily depress growth figures, but underlying demand remains strong.
EdgePoint’s portfolio, according to Sidhu, is well-prepared for the future. “Most of our sites are already ready for co-location. There’s always a little bit of CapEx for tweaks, but it’s not a big number. Unlike data centres, you don’t build massive facilities that must fill fast. You grow site by site, incrementally, which makes the portfolio versatile.”
Sidhu is keenly aware of the pressures MNOs face. Strategic partnerships are essential: “The relationship has to move from transactional to strategic, tightly partnered. You may see operators getting fixed certainty on lease rates, or relocation rights for less profitable sites, in exchange for long-term commitments. The key is finding a happy medium that works for both sides.”
Non-MNO customers also present opportunities, though they are smaller and fragmented. “These could include fixed wireless access in rural areas, urban connectivity solutions, or satellite services. Individually, they’re modest, but cumulatively, they can enhance revenue per site.” He is less optimistic about emerging sectors like electric vehicle charging, noting that infrastructure repurposing for EVs remains limited.
Digitalisation is a major focus at EdgePoint. Sidhu highlights how automation is streamlining operations: “We still had to download thousands of power bills manually, but now bots handle this work, taking seven days off people’s workloads. Roles have shifted from clicking to checking. It’s tremendously efficient.”
He also points to AI-enabled radio planning tools that optimise site selection. “These tools allow us to suggest the best locations for a new site, improving outcomes for our customers while enhancing revenue assurance.”
Looking to disruptive trends in the sector, Sidhu sees a few key factors. Network sharing, consolidation of MNOs, and increasing density of equipment per site all present commercial challenges. “You have to make sure your revenue model keeps up. Fewer customers may occupy a site, but more equipment per site can offset this. You must be prepared and priced appropriately.”
Adjacencies such as in-building systems and selective small cell deployments are part of EdgePoint’s strategic horizon. “As 5G becomes more prevalent, you need to augment your macro sites. This may not always be highly lucrative, but being a full-suite provider helps maintain long-term customer relationships.”
Despite technological evolution, Sidhu is confident about the core value of towers. “The physics hasn’t changed. Terrestrial propagation is efficient, and our macro sites will still be needed. The difference is in how we manage relationships, pricing, and ancillary services to sustain long-term revenue.”
For other tower operators navigating similar markets, Sidhu emphasizes the importance of long-term planning, digitalisation, and customer alignment. “Understand your customers’ CapEx cycles, maintain flexibility, automate processes where you can, and always be radio-savvy. Towers are no longer just passive infrastructure – they’re strategic, data-driven assets. If you stay ahead of these trends, you can thrive.”
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