Alticom
Encyclopedia
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
.
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
s 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
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.
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. Via two temporary masts in Assen
and Smilde transmission of this station as well as most public and commercial programmes are restored.
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 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
Data center
A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems...
.
Masts and towers
Alticom owns 33 masts and towers all over the Netherlands. For radio- and TV-transmission it offers full coverage of the countryAlticom owns the concrete base of the large TV- and radio towers such as the Gerbrandy Tower
Gerbrandy Tower
The Gerbrandy Tower is a tower which was built in 1961 in the Netherlands.-Description:It is situated in IJsselstein. The Gerbrandy Tower is used for directional radio services and for FM- and TV-broadcasting. The Gerbrandy Tower consists of a concrete tower with a height of 100 meters on which a...
and Zendstation Smilde
Zendstation Smilde
Zendstation Smilde is a tall, guyed structure similar to the Gerbrandy Tower, built in Hoogersmilde, the Netherlands in 1959 for directional radio services and TV and FM-transmissions. It consists of an 80 metre high reinforced concrete tower and had until a fire accident on July 15, 2011, a guyed...
while the steel mast on top of these towers is owned by a company named NOVEC, which is a subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of TenneT
TenneT
TenneT B.V. is the national electricity transmission system operator of the Netherlands, headquartered in Arnhem. Controlled and owned by the Dutch government, it is responsible for overseeing the operation of the 380 and 220 kV high-voltage grid throughout the Netherlands and its...
. The ground on which the towers are built are owned by KPN
KPN
KPN is a Dutch landline and mobile telecommunications company, including both 2G and 3G mobile operations...
, 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
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 centerData center
A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems...
s 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
Fires
On 15 July 2011 a large fire in the Smilde towerZendstation Smilde
Zendstation Smilde is a tall, guyed structure similar to the Gerbrandy Tower, built in Hoogersmilde, the Netherlands in 1959 for directional radio services and TV and FM-transmissions. It consists of an 80 metre high reinforced concrete tower and had until a fire accident on July 15, 2011, a guyed...
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.
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. Via two temporary masts in Assen
Assen
Assen is a municipality and a city in the north eastern Netherlands, capital of the province of Drenthe. It received city rights in 1809. Assen's main claim to fame is the TT Circuit Assen the motorcycle racing circuit, where on the last Saturday in June the Dutch TT is run...
and Smilde transmission of this station as well as most public and commercial programmes are restored.
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
Prudential plc
Prudential plc is a multinational financial services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom.Prudential's largest division is Prudential Corporation Asia, which has over 15 million customers across 13 Asian markets and is a top-three provider of life insurance in mainland China, Hong...
. Some other companies Infracapital invests in are Red Funnel
Red Funnel
The Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited, which trades as Red Funnel, is a ferry company that carries passengers and vehicles on routes between the English mainland and the Isle of Wight...
, Associated British Ports, Kelda Group
Kelda Group
Kelda Group is a British utility company. It is based in Bradford, England. It was formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index, but was taken private by a group of investors in 2008.-History:...