One of the largest providers of passive infrastructure in Europe gives a vote of confidence in Greece and its prospects, and in particular in the wider telecommunications sector, expanding investments in our country.

As Christian Hillabrant, CEO of Vantage Towers, pointed out, the development of passive infrastructure is vital for both businesses and citizens. For citizens, the CEO of Vantage Towers said in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), passive infrastructure means better access to basic services, such as healthcare, education and emergency services. It allows people to stay connected with loved ones, work remotely and access online resources. For example, a student in a remote Greek village can access quality education through digital platforms thanks to a well-developed passive infrastructure. In addition, the incorporation of robotics and AI in healthcare environments is becoming increasingly common lately thanks to the expansion of 5G technology.

There is one more dimension of major importance; that is protecting the environment. Through the neutral host model, we share infrastructure with more than one operator or service provider. As he said, this means less materials used, less energy to maintain it, and less optical impacts. Think about it as the equivalent of a central TV antenna on a rooftop instead of one antenna per flat.

"As the country continues to develop its digital infrastructure, we will certainly continue to invest in the market. High-demand areas include major cities like Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as popular tourist destinations, which require robust connectivity for both residents and visitors," he underlined and added:

"Additionally, rural areas also offer opportunities to bridge the digital divide and improve connectivity for underserved communities. Our new services and plans for the construction of new base stations on the mainland and the islands as a result of the growth plans of our anchor tenants, support Greece's national digital transformation strategy and will assist in the transformation of the way of life, as well as the modernization and development of the economies of the remote communities, based mainly on tourism and agriculture."

The full interview to Alekos Lidorikis folllows:

1. Vantage Towers is one of the largest European providers of passive infrastructure with over 84,000 sites and a presence in ten European countries. To succeed in any investment in a country, it must gain the trust of local communities. Could you explain in plain words the term passive infrastructure in telecommunications, which is the company's main focus and the subject of its investments in Greece?
In telecommunications, passive infrastructure refers to the physical components of a mobile network that do not carry or process data themselves but provide the necessary support for active network elements such as antennas. This includes ground-based or rooftop towers, technical cabinets, power supply etc. Vantage Towers specializes in building and maintaining this passive infrastructure, which is crucial for the operation of mobile and data services and thus for the digitalization of all areas of life.
In Greece, as in all other markets we operate in, our investments in passive infrastructure form the backbone of modern telecommunications networks, enabling faster and more reliable communications for businesses and citizens across the country. It is a given that our infrastructure, with presence in more than ~5.300 sites across the Greek territory, can form the basis for the development of new 5G technologies (such as 5G Corridors) and the adoption of AI solutions in the near future.
Vantage Towers Greece is currently the only tower company in the market and one of the largest investors in the country spending several tenths of millions for the upgrade of our infrastructure and the expansion of the network. In addition, it has a significant contribution to new solutions and innovation. We are currently testing a range of products in green energy, alternative construction, and tools which, if successful, will be exported to the whole Group. This actually has been part of my discussion with the Minister of Digital Governance, Mr. Papastergiou and his Deputy Mr. Kyranakis, during my recent visit in Greece, in which I highlighted our commitment to contribute to the digital transformation of the Greek economy.

2. Why is the development of passive infrastructure something that should concern every business and every ordinary citizen of a country? Could you provide characteristic examples for both businesses and citizens?

Passive infrastructure development is vital for both businesses and citizens.
For businesses, it means improved connectivity, which can lead to increased productivity, better customer service, and innovative solutions. In addition to providing hosting services, Vantage Towers is also a One Stop Partner for providing indoor connectivity services, undertaking end to end implementation of indoor coverage networks (DAS), in partnership with Mobile Network Operators. For example, a manufacturing company in Greece can rely on robust passive infrastructure to improve its supply chain management through IoT devices and real-time data analytics. Another example is related to the hotel sector, where innovative solutions for exceptional customer experience (sensors, smart hotels etc) can be made available once an internal 5G wireless network is successfully implemented.
For citizens, passive infrastructure means better access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and emergency services. It allows individuals to stay connected with loved ones, work remotely, and access online resources. For example, a student in a remote Greek village can access quality education through digital platforms thanks to a well-developed passive infrastructure. In addition, the incorporation of robotics and AI in healthcare environments is becoming increasingly common lately thanks to the expansion of 5G technology. There is one more dimension of major importance; that is protecting the environment. Through the neutral host model, we share infrastructure with more than one operator or service provider. In effect, this means less materials used, less energy to maintain it, and less optical impacts. Think about it as the equivalent of a central TV antenna on a rooftop instead of one antenna per flat.

3. How does energy cost affect investments in passive infrastructure? Could you
explain this?

Telecommunications infrastructure requires a constant power supply to operate efficiently. However, most of the energy is consumed by the active equipment. On our passive infrastructure, we take several relevant measures such as modernizing our power and cooling equipment to mitigate the impact of rising electricity costs. In Greece alone, through our energy efficiency project we saved 2.5 GWh per year last year and an additional 2.4 GWh this year by modernizing our sites. On top of that, we pave the way to a more sustainable and green future and go beyond our role in passive infrastructure by cooperating with our customers in Europe to find ways to offer green energy solutions - for example, installing micro wind turbines, solar panels and probing with new more environmentally friendly fuels.

4. Do you believe that there are investment opportunities in passive infrastructure in
Greece? In which geographic areas?

Absolutely and we are benefiting from the fact that Vantage Towers is already the first TowerCo in Greece. As the country continues to develop its digital infrastructure, we will certainly continue to invest in the market. High-demand areas include major cities like Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as popular tourist destinations, which require robust connectivity for both residents and visitors. Additionally, rural areas also offer opportunities to bridge the digital divide and improve connectivity for underserved communities.

Our new services and plans for the construction of new base stations on the mainland and the islands as a result of the growth plans of our anchor tenants, support Greece's national digital transformation strategy and will assist in the transformation of the way of life, as well as the modernization and development of the economies of the remote communities, based mainly on tourism and agriculture.

5. What is the typical duration of an investment in passive infrastructure? Are there
any environmental and health implications for residents?

Investments in passive infrastructure usually have a long-term outlook, spanning decades if not centuries. It is very rare that a site gets dismantled, because usually we want to expand. Of course, we are very selective in our points of presence and in some cases, we do proceed with replacement of sites that suit better our needs.

As for environmental and health implications, we prioritize responsible deployment, adhering to all regulatory standards. The scientific findings on mobile radio are also very clear: below the regulatory thresholds for electromagnetic fields, there are no indications of a risk to humans, animals or nature. We also dispose properly and recycle all materials that have reached the end of their life cycle.

6. What does the management of the infrastructure practically entail?

Managing our infrastructure entails ongoing maintenance, monitoring, and optimization of our assets to ensure they perform at their best. We proactively address any technical issues, upgrade equipment when necessary, and conduct regular inspections to maintain network reliability. This management approach ensures that our infrastructure remains a dependable foundation for telecommunications services in the regions we serve, and our company is deemed a reliable supplier for our customers.