Polish fibre optic network operator INEA SA says it has received a strategic investment from an affiliate of Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm focused on growth investing. The investment firm has committed additional funding for growth and consolidation, including planned roll out of fibre to the home (FTTH patch cable) technology. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.

Since its foundation in 1992, INEA has grown into the fourth-largest fibre optic network operator in Poland and claims it is the leading triple-play operator in the Wielkopolska region. Passing 360,000 homes and serving 170,000 subscribers, INEA provides telecommunications services over its fully upgraded network, including HotSpots throughout Poznan and its own local TV channel. Wielkopolska is the third-largest Polish province with a population of 3.4 million. In 2012 the dompany generated revenues of PLN 169 million ($53 million).

The FTTH roll out will extend fibre-optic broadband access to over 200,000 additional households and a significant number of businesses in Wielkopolska. INEA says its fibre optic network will be the most advanced in Poland, providing high-speed broadband access to over 500,000 homes across the entire Wielkopolska region.

In addition, the investment by Warburg Pincus will support INEA’s ability to consolidate the highly fragmented local cable market.

The transaction is believed to be the largest private equity investment in Poland this year.

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