Spanish infrastructure developer Abertis has entered the mobile communications market with the acquisition of 500 towers from telecommunications giant Telefonica.
The deal, which cost Abertis some €45 million, marks the first time the company will be involved in the management of mobile communications infrastructure, although Abertis is no stranger to managing terrestrial TV broadcasting infrastructure.
“After this operation, the telecommunications unit of Abertis continues its process of diversification into activities apart from terrestrial TV broadcasting, thanks to which, more than 60 percent of its revenues now come from services not related to TDT [digital terrestrial television],” Francisco Reynes, Abertis’ chief executive, said in a statement.
Abertis said the purchased towers are located in rural areas across Spain. Under its agreement with Telefonica, the Spanish developer may end up acquiring a further 500 towers before the year is out, Abertis said in a statement.