Alticom
 | |
| telecommunication infrastructure | |
| Industry | telecommunication services |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | TDF Group |
| Headquarters | Meppel, Netherlands |
Area served | Netherlands |
Key people | Ed Clarke, director Infracapital |
| Products |
transmission masts Data centre services |
| Owner | Infracapital |
| Parent | Infracapital (since June 2011) |
| Website | www.alticom.nl |
|
Footnotes / references in June 2011 Alticom was acquired from TDG Holding[1] | |
Alticom bv is a Dutch company that owns 33 transmission masts in the Netherlands. Alticom offers space on these masts for antennas to operators of telecommunication networks and room within the constructions for the associated equipment and as colocation/data center.[2]
Masts and towers
Alticom owns 33 masts and towers all over the Netherlands. For radio- and TV-transmission it offers full coverage of the country[3]
Alticom owns the concrete base of the large TV- and radio towers such as the Gerbrandy Tower and Zendstation Smilde while the steel mast on top of these towers is owned by a company named NOVEC, which is a subsidiary of TenneT. The ground on which the towers are built are owned by KPN, the company that sold the towers and masts to Alticom and Novec in 2007. Only the first 3 meters around the base of the structures are owned by Alticom[4]
Datacenters
As result of the demolition of the terrestrial analogue TV network in the Netherlands space became available in the masts. The company converted these spaces into data centers and offers this to IT companies as regional data center facilities. Due to the nature of the radio- and TV-masts all facilities are on-site to guarantee permanent operation (such as emergency power-generators, redundant communication links etc.). Since 2009 space in the towers is offered as colocation centers[5]
Fires
On 15 July 2011 a large fire in the Smilde tower broke out within the steel mast on top of Alticom's concrete base. The extreme heat that was produced by this fire resulted in the collapse of the steel tower and the steel construction was destroyed.[6] All transmissions from the tower, including the FM Radio signal of RTV Drenthe, which is assigned as the official emergency station in case of emergencies, have since been stopped.[7] Via two temporary masts in Assen and Smilde transmission of this station as well as most public and commercial programmes are restored.[8][9]
On the same day a smaller fire in the highest tower of Alticom, the Gerbrandy Tower, interrupted transmission of TV- and radio in a large part of the Netherlands. There is no indication that these fires are related.
Infracapital
On 8 June 2011 a joint press-release from Infracapital and the TDF Group was published. The press-release informed the public that investment company Infracapital has acquired 100% of the shares in Alticom from TDF Group.
Infracapital is the investment company specialized in investments in infrastructure related companies. It is managed by M&G Investment limited which is the asset management arm of Prudential plc. Some other companies Infracapital invests in are Red Funnel, Associated British Ports, Kelda Group[1]
Sources and notes
- 1 2 Pressrelease Infracapital acquires 100% of Alticom, 8 June 2011, retrieved 27 July 2011
- ↑ Website Alticon Services (Dutch), visited 27 July 2011
- ↑ Alticom website National coverage, (Dutch), visited 27 July 2011
- ↑ Report Safe working at great heights, Dutch security report, 8 August 2007, retrieved 27 July 2011
- ↑ Brochure Alcticom Data centers, (Dutch), retrieved 27 July 2011
- ↑ Youtube video on collapse of TV mast, viewed 27 July 2011
- ↑ Overview radio stations during a calamity, retrieved 27 July 2011
- ↑ Global Tuners forum Fire in Radiotower, visited 27 July 2011
- ↑ Website regional newspaper Emergency masts in Assen and Hoogersmilde, (Dutch), 16 July 2011, visited 27 July 2011