Spirit Telecom acquires Brisbane telco LinkOne for $5.7 million

Spirit Telecom is set to acquire fixed wireless broadband provider LinkOne Networks for $5.7 million, after rejecting a proposed takeover bid from another telco.

The deal will expand the ASX-listed Melbourne telco’s presence and channel partner offering to Sydney and Brisbane, and will also power its new high-speed business-to-business data service.

Spirit earlier this week revealed plans to acquire “a complementary unlisted business” when it rejected an acquisition proposal from Adelaide telco Uniti Wireless.

The telco will acquire the entire LinkOne group of companies, including the core LinkOne enterprise broadband business, consumer brand Ignite Broadband and VoIP business Anttel Communications.

LinkOne chief executive Todd Maunder will also join Spirit in a role focusing on network expansion and acquisition.

“The acquisition of LinkOne brings to Spirit an instant accretive expansion into Brisbane and Sydney and is geographically complimentary in Melbourne,” Spirit managing director Geoff Neate said.

“This is an exciting acquisition that has been over six months in the making and brings a growing business, managed by a smart team, into Spirit’s stable.”

The new coverage will also allow Spirit to expand its business-to-business data services, add 44 towers and 25 channel partners and gain access to LinkOne’s 570 clients.

“This is an opportunity to take LinkOne to a new level. The synergies between our respective networks enable an immediate upside for our partners,” LinkOne chief executive Todd Maunder said.

“I am extremely proud of what the LinkOne team has achieved and we look forward to joining Spirit’s dynamic team.”

LinkOne provides fixed broadband services to business using a hybrid optic fibre and fixed-point wireless network powered by millimetre-wave technology.