Digital infrastructure firm Telent acquires the Harlequin Group
Digital infrastructure firm Telent has acquired telecommunications company the Harlequin Group.
Telent, which is based in Warwick, said the acquisition will support its ambitions to enhance its professional services offering to mobile network operators and service providers, including the delivery of public 5G networks. The acquisition will also expand Telent’s services in fibre network planning, surveying and design.
Founded in 1993, the Harlequin Group operates across the UK with offices in Chatham, Bromsgrove, Manchester and Livingston in Scotland.
The company is a UK market leader in the mobile and fixed line sectors working on site acquisition, town and country planning, community relations, estates management, valuation, technical surveys, civil and electrical design and site build services.
Jo Gretton, CEO of Telent, said: "Telent has an established and successful business supporting the UK’s MNOs with the deployment of their networks and base station infrastructure.
"With our strong background in wireless network deployment, our area of focus has historically been more on the physical build and construction activity.
"The addition of the site acquisition, planning and design capability that the team at Harlequin bring to Telent enables us to provide a complete and compelling proposition for the UK MNO market.
"The timing of this acquisition is ideal as the UK’s mobile networks are ramping up their transition to 5G technology."
David Summers, MD and founder of the Harlequin Group, added: “Telent are recognised as a leading player in the construction of both fixed and mobile telecoms infrastructure.
"The scale and reach that Telent offer - combined with the expertise of the Harlequin Group in acquisition, planning and design - will offer a really powerful proposition for MNOs.
"The resulting synergies will benefit both Telent’s and Harlequin’s existing customers and create the opportunity to further scale-up as the migration towards 5G gathers pace.
"Being part of Telent also offers exciting opportunities for additional personal and professional development for the team at Harlequin.”
Harlequin Group was advised by RSM UK. Rikesh Patel, corporate finance director at RSM UK, said: ‘As the UK’s mobile network transition to 5G technology accelerates, the timing of this acquisition brings together two industry leaders to combine their specialist services and expertise to capitalise on the opportunity as the UK gears up for the rapid rollout of 5G technology.
"This deal also further strengthens RSM’s credentials in the telecoms sector."
