Project description
Wooden telecom towers to steal the show
Mobile and wireless broadband network operators need communication towers to place the equipment they use to transmit data. In Europe today, there are 300 000 towers and the number will grow as mobile broadband speeds accelerate and data volumes increase. The more towers constructed, the faster the roll out of wireless broadband network expansion and upgrade. The EU-funded Wooden Tower project will bring to market the Ecopol – a wooden tower with a small carbon footprint (less than half of the equivalent steel towers). Prototypes for 3G and 4G technologies are currently being tested in Hungary. By 2023, the project and the Finnish coordinator Ecotelligent aim to become the first wooden tower provider on the European market.
Objective
In Europe and globally, the use of wireless communication in 4G and 5G networks is growing, resulting in the need for several thousands of new telecommunication towers (ground based towers ie. GBTs) annually. For serving the antenna and device technology and for answering the requirements of cities, operators and changing climate, the lifecycle of telecommunication infrastructure, its characteristics and appearance needs to be re-modified. Ecotelligent addresses the business opportunity by introducing to the market Ecopol, the small carbon footprint telecom tower, based on the application of the science of wood construction technology. Ecopol’s environmental impact is less than half of the equivalent steel GBTs. First 30 and 40 meter high Ecopol prototypes for 3G and 4G technologies are located in Hungary. Ecotelligent’s first target market are the 51 000 GBTs needed by 2023 in the European market. The first targeted customers are operators and tower companies. Other customers are mobile network operators and other owners of passive infrastructure where mobile network devices are installed onto. In 2023 Ecotelligent aims at selling Ecopol in 7 European countries, generating a cumulative turnover of over 27 million euros. Ecotelligent’s goal is to be the first wooden tower provider on the market offering low carbon, easy to retail alternatives and contribute to pleasant living environment. Ecotelligent’s team has long-term experience in telecommunication infrastructure design, construction and maintenance businesses, start-ups and fund-raising; extensive networks and good market knowledge. The goal of the proposed project is to strengthen market knowledge, customer and stakeholder contacts; outline further product and service development needs and update business plan and IPR strategy. EcoTelligent aims at utilising the SME Instrument Phase 2 funding for financing the further development and market entry activities.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networksmobile network5G
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energy
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcomposites
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networksmobile network4G
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technology
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
80400 YLAMYLLY
Finland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.