Cteam is building the first wooden mobile telephone mast for Vantage Towers

As a pilot project, Cteam erected the first wooden mast near Bechtolsheim in Rhineland-Palatinate on behalf of Vantage Towers. Thanks to their construction from renewable and recyclable wood, wooden transmission masts have a significantly lower CO ₂ footprint than masts made of steel or concrete. Due to the specific requirements, specially trained industrial climbers are used for the erection of the wooden elements.

With the construction of wooden transmission stations, Vantage Towers, together with the Finnish start-up Ecotelligent, is laying important foundations for a more sustainable mobile telephone industry and digitalisation. As part of the 5G roll-out, thousands of radio masts are currently being planned and erected across Europe. Wood as a renewable resource offers a responsible and more sustainable alternative for building digital infrastructure.

As a pilot project, Cteam erected this first of two wooden masts near Bechtolsheim in Rhineland-Palatinate. Another mast of this kind is expected to follow in Leiwen in the third-quarter of 2023. More sites, including in other states, are currently being planned.

“The assembly of the wooden masts is a demanding task”, explains Tobias Grahlow, site manager responsible for mobile phone mast construction at Cteam. “Due to the specific requirements, specially trained industrial climbers are used for the erection of the wooden elements. In contrast to conventional steel mesh towers, there are only a few anchor points, which requires careful securing in the rope and a high level of concentration. Over a period of eight weeks, three steel anchors were installed in a concrete foundation, to which the wooden elements were mounted in nine individual parts. In contrast to steel assembly, the sections are brought into position individually and vertically and bolted from the inside. This work is of the highest precision, especially at heights of up to 30 metres, and requires a high level of concentration. That’s not possible if you suffer from vertigo or claustrophobia”, explains Tobias Grahlow.

Thanks to their construction from renewable and recyclable wood, wooden transmission masts have a significantly lower CO footprint than masts made of steel or concrete. In addition, their attractive and modern design means they blend in better with their surroundings, which increases the population's acceptance of mobile telephone infrastructure.

Among others, Alexander Schweitzer, Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Transformation and Digitalisation of Rhineland-Palatinate, Dieter Mann, Mayor of Bechtolsheim, Kai Uebach, Managing Director of Vantage Towers Germany, and Gyöngyi Mátray, CEO of Ecotelligent, took part in the inauguration ceremony of the wooden mast this Wednesday.

“Improving the quality of coverage and network coverage in mobile telephone are central goals of the state government,” said Minister of State Alexander Schweitzer. “I am pleased that the erection of the radio mast in Bechtolsheim not only advances the expansion of mobile telephone in the state, but also contributes to a greener future. In order to provide rural regions with fast mobile telephone and the latest 5G mobile telephone standard, the acceptance of the population is also of great importance. The sustainability aspect can play an important role here”, continues Schweitzer.

“With the wooden mast in Bechtolsheim, Vantage Towers has taken a new approach to mobile phone expansion that is both sustainable and visually appealing”, said Kai Uebach, Managing Director of Vantage Towers Germany. “We are very pleased to have successfully realised this project, which is unique in Germany so far, together with Ecotelligent and would like to thank the mayor of the municipality of Bechtolsheim for the constructive dialogue. Together, we have achieved a great result and showed how we can create more acceptance for mobile expansion in Germany.”

The erection of the first wooden mobile phone mast marks a turning point in the history of digital infrastructure. Cteam is proud to play a role in shaping a sustainable future with its know-how and performance. With this project, the specialist for mobile phone mast construction underlines its commitment to a more sustainable future and meets the challenges of a rapidly developing digital world.