The European Commission has cleared Liberty Global's €669 million sale of VodafoneZiggo's passive tower assets to DigitalBridge, TD Greystone Infrastructure and L&G, with closing expected by year-end.

The clearance, announced on October 14, 2026, removes the last regulatory obstacle for one of the larger tower transactions in the Dutch market this cycle. Liberty Global confirmed the buyer consortium and the price in the same statement. It also restated where the money goes.

The €669 million forms part of a targeted €1.2-1.4 billion in non-core asset disposals. That program funds the intended listing of Ziggo Group in Amsterdam, planned for mid-2027 through a spin-off transaction announced earlier. Proceeds from the tower sale will support de-leveraging at VodafoneZiggo.

For infrastructure investors, the deal signals continued appetite for passive Dutch tower assets among US-led buyers. DigitalBridge and TD Greystone both run large infrastructure portfolios. L&G adds institutional capital to the consortium.

What did Mike Fries say?

Mike Fries, Chairman and CEO of Liberty Global, framed the clearance as progress toward the listing. He said: "We welcome the swift EU Commission clearance regarding the sale of our Dutch towers which represents another important step towards the compelling listing of Ziggo Group next year."

He also confirmed the use of funds. "We can confirm that proceeds will be used for de-leveraging at VodafoneZiggo alongside free cash flow generation ahead of the spin-off," Fries said.

The CEO paired the transaction update with commercial results. VodafoneZiggo's "How we win plan" delivered record commercial momentum in the third quarter of 2026, according to Fries, with the best broadband net adds performance since 2019. The operator also posted overall revenue growth in the quarter, supported by what he called a strong value proposition for broadband customers.

Why does DOCSIS 4 matter here?

The tower story now shares a headline with a network milestone. VodafoneZiggo launched internet speeds of up to 8Gbps in the Netherlands this week, following an upgrade to DOCSIS 4 technology completed in a record 18 months.

Fries said: "This innovative use of new technology has future proofed the local network without the need for expensive digging."

That last point carries the practical weight. DOCSIS 4 pushes multi-gigabit speeds over existing hybrid fiber-coaxial plant. For VodafoneZiggo, it means 8Gbps retail tiers without a full fiber overbuild, avoiding the civil works costs that dominate European fiber budgets. An 18-month nationwide upgrade pace sets a benchmark other cable operators weighing DOCSIS 4 will study.

What changes for the Ziggo listing?

The disposal program now has a cleared, priced anchor asset. At €669 million, the tower sale covers roughly half of the lower end of the €1.2-1.4 billion disposal target. Liberty Global has roughly six months to close remaining disposals if it wants the full program in place before the mid-2027 Amsterdam listing window.

De-leveraging at VodafoneZiggo matters for listing economics. A cleaner balance sheet, plus the reported broadband momentum and revenue growth, shapes how investors will price Ziggo Group against Dutch peer KPN and fiber challenger Odido.

Investors will get a fuller picture soon. Liberty Global will release its Q3 2026 results on November 3, where the broadband net adds and revenue growth Fries cited will appear in audited detail.