Cellnex asserts its key role in connectivity in Europe

Cellnex Telecom celebrated its tenth anniversary yesterday with an official event at the company's headquarters in Barcelona, ​​attended by the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Salvador Illa. The Catalan Minister of Business and Labor, Miquel Sàmper, the Spanish Government's Delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, representing the Spanish Government, and former Presidents of the Generalitat José Montilla and Pere Aragonès completed the institutional representation. Cellnex Chairman Óscar Fanjul led the event, which also brought together executives and employees, and culminated in a discussion between Cellnex CEO Alfonso Álvarez Villamarín and journalist Albert Cuesta, moderated by Esther Vera, director of the newspaper ARA. In his speech, Salvador Illa congratulated the company on its 10th anniversary, emphasizing Cellnex's deep roots in Catalonia: "Cellnex started in Barcelona, ​​in Catalonia, and these 10 years are a good example of a history of ambition. There has been a desire for internationalization, but the commitment to internationalization has been incompatible, which I appreciate, and the presence here of three presidents recognizes its importance."

At the opening of the event, Óscar Fanjul thanked the authorities for their presence and highlighted the "excellent service" that Cellnex has provided over the past ten years. "The company operates in ten European countries, has invested more than 45 billion euros in its expansion process, and continues to advance in its consolidation and growth," he stated. He also emphasized the great responsibility Cellnex assumes in critical situations such as the DANA storm or the recent blackout. "The company reacted quickly, and there was no impact whatsoever on communications, thanks to the efforts of Cellnex's professionals," he remarked.

Illa highlighted Cellnex's "resilience" and "the asset that having one of the sector's essential companies represents for Catalonia, a company that was founded here and continues to have a prominent presence in the region," also emphasizing its clear European focus.

The president also took up the challenge issued by the CEO, Alfonso Álvarez Villamarín, regarding the need to expedite regulations. "Although it's not a matter of a day or two... The truth is, I was touched that he asked for it; we're not used to it. But it's clear that we need rules, because without rules there's chaos," he stated.

With Catalan and also European DNA

Alfonso Álvarez Villamarín called for "a stable regulatory framework and the confidence of the authorities." He explained that "regulation should bring operators together, because this not only translates into lower prices for customers, but also because, if it doesn't, operators won't invest. We need support from a regulatory standpoint. Networks evolve very quickly, and the business doesn't wait." The CEO of Cellnex emphasized the company's DNA and its connection to the region. "What I want to make very clear is that our company is a leader in its sector thanks to our origins in Barcelona, ​​in Catalonia. The people who work with us and the collaboration with the Catalan government have been very important to our DNA and are an example of our expansion. So let's not forget where we come from." With more than 130,000 installations globally, Álvarez Villamarín reiterated that what customers contract with Cellnex is, above all, security. "As happened during the DANA storm or the blackout day, when the radio service was restored immediately. At that moment, Cellnex stepped up. A steady increase in mobile traffic is expected, and infrastructure will become increasingly necessary. We're also talking about urban infrastructure: we'll have to install more antennas, and..." The business continues to evolve, so, Álvarez Villamarín said, "we expect more mergers, and that's not a bad thing, but a positive one because it increases financial capacity." Furthermore, "the more real competition, the higher the quality and the greater the resilience. We sell a service that never goes down like on the blackout day," Álvarez reiterated, assuring that the company is also investing heavily in batteries with up to four hours of autonomy. The future lies in 5G and small cells.

Álvarez Villamarín also emphasized the importance of deploying 5G in less densely populated areas than cities and the need to install small antennas in less visible locations. "When we were talking about putting antennas on rooftops in 1998, there were no regulations; and now we need regulations for small cells. Now we can install antennas on lampposts, kiosks, or public lighting points, but we need this deployment to be regulated."

As he emphasized, Cellnex is focused solely on Europe, and "I would say on Western Europe. We were in 12 countries, but ended up abandoning two. Our business focus is organic, and our DNA is service. There's still a lot to be done in terms of infrastructure. 5G requires a lot of work. We continue to grow in the audiovisual market. By 2030, we'll have a TV package to tune in to DTT/T2 and watch in 4K. We're also working on digital radio through DAB+, as well as voice and data networks, and we're always looking for technological options that are secure, profitable, and innovative."

Cybersecurity and sustainability: two necessary commitments

As expected, cybersecurity is another top priority for the company. "In recent months, we've suffered more than 20,000 attacks. This is a growing and worrying reality." Similarly, the CEO of Cellnex emphasized the importance of sustainability for the company, given that "we are a publicly traded company and we want to remain profitable and sustainable. One hundred percent of our energy comes from green sources, and we rank highly in the main sustainability indices. We are in the top 20 from the magazine Time "And we always invest in the future, in consuming less because we don't just want to be the biggest, but also the best."

Álvarez Villamarín recalled that defense is also a factor to consider. "We don't buy cannons or bullets, but we do make sure communications work and perform well, so with Cell. The talk concluded with the primary need to feminize a sector traditionally dominated by men. It seems clear that what we need are role models."

"I'm optimistic, but we must make the profiles of women in technical fields visible in companies so that 15-year-old girls can see themselves reflected in them, precisely at the moment when they are thinking about what to study," concluded the CEO of Cellnex. ~B_