Vantage Towers is providing the Germany-wide tower infrastructure for 450connect

Tower infrastructure operator Vantage Towers and radio network operator 450connect GmbH, which is backed by more than 70 companies from the energy and water sectors, have signed a long-term collaboration agreement. Under the framework agreement 450connect and all its affiliated companies can use the around 19,400 towers in the Vantage Towers German infrastructure to set up the fail-safe 450connect mobile network with 4G and 5G technology and facilitate the digitalisation of Germany’s critical industries.

The 450connect platform will use the 450 MHz radio frequencies that were exclusively awarded to the company by the Federal Network Agency last year with licence rights until 2040. An emergency power supply will ensure that the mobile network continues to function for at least 72 hours even in the event of a power failure, guaranteeing secure and high availability communications in critical infrastructures, particularly those of the energy and water sectors. The network will also enable the integration of the smart metering and smart grid applications for renewable energies that are so essential to the success of the German energy industry’s transformation.

Vantage Towers is providing its high quality nationwide tower infrastructure to 450connect for the installation of its antennas on a co-location basis. The exact number of sites and the rollout time schedule will be defined by 450connect in the mobile network planning process and the 450 MHz platform will be going live by 2025. It is completely independent of other mobile networks and is the largest in the world in terms of the number of devices expected to use it.

Dr Frederik Giessing, Managing Director (COO) of 450connect GmbH: “With our fail-safe platform, we are setting the course for digitalisation and thus for the success of the energy transition and transport transformation in Germany. Being able to use Vantage Towers’ infrastructure means we can roll out our network quickly and efficiently.”

Badiaa Bazarbacha, Executive Head of Sales at Vantage Towers: “450connect is a new and important colocation customer for our company. We’re delighted to be supporting the fast deployment of a secure mobile network dedicated to serve the energy and water utilities, and other critical infrastructures. With this strategic partnership we are making a significant contribution to the digital transformation and further improving sustainability in Europe.”

CT Bureau