Cellnex, owner of Polish telecom towers for Play and Plus, seeks a strategic role in Poland’s “Eastern Shield” initiative, offering its network for early warning and secure communications.
Cellnex’s Strategic Ambitions in Poland
While widely recognized as the owner of telecom towers for Play and Plus networks in Poland, Cellnex has broader ambitions, including strategic support for national defense, building communication networks for uniformed services, and creating “digital twins” of infrastructure.
The company declares full readiness to support the “Eastern Shield” initiative, offering 18,000 base stations and unique technologies for coverage in shelters and underground bunkers.
Infrastructure and Capabilities
Cellnex aims to be a strategic partner in the “Eastern Shield” project, citing its business model, competencies, and physical assets as ideal for the initiative’s goals.
As a neutral operator with nearly 18,000 base stations, including locations in eastern Poland, Cellnex provides a ready infrastructure for early warning systems, border monitoring, and cameras.
Underground Network Solutions
Cellnex can provide solutions for building networks in shelters and underground bunkers for military and civilian use, overcoming signal blockage issues inherent in such structures.
The company is a market leader in DAS (Distributed Antenna Systems) technology, ensuring excellent coverage for critical and commercial communications within massive, inaccessible structures, such as Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy stadium and tunnels.
Security and Resilience
Cellnex guarantees not only equipment but also security, drawing on years of international experience in securing critical networks.
Many of its facilities are equipped with advanced emergency power systems capable of maintaining network operation for dozens of hours during crises or widespread power outages.
Its neutral approach and extensive fiber optic network (over 13,000 km) allow it to efficiently and securely serve both civilian and uniformed service markets.
PPDR Networks and Future Development
Cellnex operates a PPDR (dedicated network for uniformed services) in Catalonia and believes Poland, given its geostrategic importance, should have a modern, nationwide PPDR network.
The company believes its infrastructure can play a key role, possessing the necessary infrastructure and expertise throughout Poland.
Land Ownership and Investment
Following the example of its investments in towers, Cellnex is also working to acquire land on which its infrastructure stands, currently owning several hundred plots in Poland.
The company is actively working to acquire ownership of as many plots as possible under its facilities, mirroring its approach in other European countries.
Cybersecurity Law and Compliance
Cellnex’s three Polish companies have been designated as telecommunications entrepreneurs under the amended national cybersecurity law, triggering new obligations.
The company is preparing to fully comply with the new requirements by April of next year.
Component Sourcing and Risk Mitigation
Cellnex is positioned to be less affected by the implementation of the cybersecurity law and the EU’s proposed Act on Digital Networks regarding Chinese infrastructure components.
The company currently has no components from high-risk vendors, as such vendors are not yet defined under Polish law, but assures its purchases will always comply with regulations.
Fair Share and Investment Incentives
Cellnex believes Europe should create investment incentives allowing operators to achieve a fair, market-based return on invested capital.
This could be achieved through changes to competition and merger regulations, as the European telecommunications sector remains fragmented.
Centimeter-Level Positioning Technology
Cellnex recently partnered with Point One Group on centimeter-level RTK positioning, enhancing GPS accuracy.
RTK technology, combined with Point One’s partnership, reduces GPS error margins from several meters to just a few centimeters.
This technology is crucial for the future economy, enabling autonomous vehicles, precision drones, and large-scale automation in agriculture and construction.
AI and Digital Twins
Cellnex is currently undertaking what is likely the largest “Digital Twin” project for its infrastructure in Europe, building on a successful pilot in another European country.
The company is using artificial intelligence to predict potential problems and failures in its infrastructure, enabling precise and cost-effective predictive maintenance.
Investment and Future Plans in Poland
Since entering the Polish market in 2021, Cellnex has invested 19 billion PLN, with nearly 6 billion PLN allocated to infrastructure development.
The company intends to continue playing an active role in building Poland’s digital infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of world-class connectivity for sustainable economic development.
Cellnex has launched 2,900 new locations in Poland, providing coverage to areas previously without cellular service or with insufficient quality.