EI Towers

What EI Towers does

EI Towers S.p.A. is Italy's largest independent tower company, operating approximately 2,400 broadcasting sites that provide shared infrastructure for television, radio, mobile telecommunications, and IoT services. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Lissone (Monza-Brianza), the company is privately held following a 2018 voluntary tender offer by 2i Towers, a vehicle jointly backed by infrastructure fund F2i and broadcaster MFE (Mediaset). Its product portfolio spans DVB-T television broadcasting, AM/FM and DAB+ radio transmission, hosting and DAS/Small Cell solutions for mobile and FWA operators, the Sigfox-based LPWA IoT network operated through subsidiary EIT Smart, and end-to-end broadcast services including satellite and fiber-based signal distribution. A central operational asset is the Iliad International Broadcast Centre in Lissone, which connects all Italian stadiums via fiber and distributes sports content to more than 50 international broadcasters across 180+ countries.

The company generates revenue through recurring hosting and subscription contracts with network operators, sports rights holders (notably Lega Serie A and Mediaset), mobile operators, and IoT customers. Go-to-market is enterprise-direct via a network of 15 regional offices across Italy and a corporate website information-request channel. Beyond core infrastructure hosting, EI Towers layers professional services such as MCR operations, production coordination, post-production through group company EIT Sport, and AI-powered virtual advertising delivered through a partnership with ISG Europe (TGI Sport). The company is in negotiations to merge with state-backed Rai Way, a combination that would consolidate roughly 4,700 tower sites and value the merged entity at nearly EUR 4 billion, reshaping the Italian broadcast infrastructure market.

Operational maturity is evidenced by TÜV Rheinland-issued certifications across ISO 37001 (anti-bribery), ISO 14001 (environmental), and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), and a 2013 Fitch BBB credit rating supporting prior bond issuance. AI capability is presently partnership-dependent and concentrated in virtual advertising insertion, while the core business remains a regulated infrastructure utility anchored by long-term enterprise contracts and regulatory compliance under Italian Anti-Trust Authority oversight.

Name

EI Towers

Legal name

EI Towers S.p.A.

Website

https://eitowers.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

EI Towers is Italy's largest independent tower company, operating ~2,400 broadcast and telecom sites serving TV and radio broadcasters, mobile operators, sports rights holders, and IoT customers, with international signal distribution from its Lissone broadcast centre.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Telecommunications Tower Infrastructure

NAICS

Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161), Satellite Telecommunications (517410), Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Tower Operations & Maintenance (Field Services) (HDAIAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Real Estate, Leasing & Colocation Management (Landlords/REITs) (HDAIAKAJ), Satellite Video & Media Distribution (DTH, Contribution/Distribution, Occasional Use) (HDAIAJAG)

Keywords

• Tower infrastructure
• Broadcast services
• DVB-T broadcasting
• Mobile network hosting
• IoT connectivity

Headquarters

HQ city

Lissone

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tower Infrastructure Hosting: EI Towers operates as a tower company providing infrastructure hosting services for TV and radio broadcasters, and mobile operators. Revenue is generated through hosting fees and service contracts with network operators requiring site access for signal transmission.
2. Broadcast Services: Audio and video contribution and distribution services for sporting events and media productions, both nationally and internationally. Services include production coordination, MCR services, satellite signal distribution, and post-production.
3. IoT Connectivity (EIT Smart): Subscription-based Sigfox IoT connectivity services sold to the Italian IoT market, providing efficient, reliable and simple information management for connected devices.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

EI Towers operates Italy's largest independent tower infrastructure network of approximately 2,400 broadcasting sites, providing infrastructure hosting and integrated services for TV broadcasters (DVB-T), radio broadcasters (AM/FM and DAB+), mobile network operators (GSM, DCS, UMTS, LTE, DAS & Small Cells), and IoT connectivity (via its EIT Smart subsidiary operating the Sigfox LPWA network). The company also delivers end-to-end professional broadcast services including audio/video contribution, satellite signal distribution, fiber optics, SRT transmission, and AI-powered virtual advertising for live sports and media events, distributing internationally to 50+ broadcasters across 180+ countries from its International Broadcast Center in Lissone.

Product overview

EI Towers operates as a tower company providing broadcast and telecommunications infrastructure services in Italy. The company offers a portfolio of infrastructure services including TV broadcast services (DVB-T), radio broadcast services (AM/FM and DAB+), broadcast services (audio/video contribution and distribution), mobile and FWA infrastructure (DAS & Small Cells), and IoT network services via its EIT Smart subsidiary. The company manages approximately 2,400 broadcasting sites and operates the Iliad International Broadcast Center for sports content distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EIT Smart: Subsidiary company operating the Sigfox IoT network in Italy providing LPWA connectivity services on a subscription basis.

Products and services

• TV Broadcast Services Digital terrestrial television (DVB-T) broadcasting infrastructure and network management services for national and local TV network operators in Italy, providing integrated services at high quality standards for the digital platform evolution.
• Radio Broadcast Services AM/FM analog and DAB+ digital radio broadcasting services leveraging approximately 2,400 transmission sites for nationwide capillary coverage of Italian radio audiences.
• Broadcast Services End-to-end audio and video contribution and distribution services in Italy and internationally, including satellite signal distribution, fiber optics, and SRT transmission for live sports events, entertainment, and media productions, with capability to reach 50+ broadcasters in 180+ countries from the International Broadcast Center in Lissone.
• Mobile and FWA Infrastructure Services Hosting services and end-to-end solutions for distributed wireless broadband infrastructure including DAS (Distributed Antenna Systems) and Small Cells for mobile operators using GSM, DCS, UMTS, and LTE technologies, covering both long-range tower positions and urban rooftop sites.
• EIT Smart IoT Network LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Sigfox network in Italy offering effective national coverage for IoT connectivity services, managed on a subscription basis by EIT Smart S.r.l. subsidiary for efficient, reliable, and simple information management of connected devices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Broadcast reach to 50+ international broadcasters in 180+ countries for major sporting events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• ISG Europa (TGI Sport)coreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partnership for AI-powered virtual advertising in sports broadcasts. Uses player movement prediction to seamlessly integrate virtual perimeter VLEDs and virtual center circle graphics into live sports signals, synchronized in real-time for distribution to different global markets.
• Lega Serie AflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnological partnership providing broadcast services for Serie A Enilive, Coppa Italia Frecciarossa and EA Sports Supercup events. EI Towers serves as exclusive technological partner for signal contribution and distribution.
• Alamiya MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Saudi Arabia providing transmission antennas and television production equipment for international events like EA SPORTS FC Supercup 2025 in Riyadh.
• EIT SportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company providing post-production and archiving services for sports broadcasts. Creates products in multiple languages and formats for national, international markets and digital channels.
• iLikeminorOthersPartnership with iLike for ComoLake2024 event as Premium Partner.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rai Way: Italian tower company majority-owned by state broadcaster RAI. Direct competitor in DVB-T and radio hosting, and the subject of recurrent merger discussions with EI Towers to form a ~4,700-site national champion.
• Persidera: Italian broadcasting infrastructure operator (formerly Persidera/TowerTel, controlled by F2i) active in DVB-T transmission and digital terrestrial television services. Domestic competitor with overlapping broadcast hosting customers.
• Inwit: Italian tower operator (TIM/Vodafone JV) hosting mobile operator infrastructure nationwide. Closest domestic direct competitor to EI Towers in the mobile/FWA and DAS/Small Cells segment.
• 2i Towers: Italian tower company (F2i/MFE) that executed the 2018 voluntary tender offer to take EI Towers private. Sister/parent entity under common control with overlapping shareholder base and competitive positioning in Italy.

Broad incumbents

• American Tower: Global tower REIT operating communications sites worldwide. Highly comparable business model (tower hosting as core revenue) but at vastly greater scale and with exposure to multiple geographies, providing a useful valuation benchmark.
• SBA Communications: Global owner/operator of wireless communications tower sites serving mobile operators. Comparable tower-company economics and customer profile, providing a useful proxy for capital-light tower hosting returns.
• Cellnex Telecom: Europe's largest independent tower operator with extensive broadcast and telecom tower assets across multiple countries. Comparable business model as a tower landlord to broadcasters and MNOs, though at much larger scale and pan-European footprint.
• IHS Towers: One of the largest global independent tower operators focused on emerging markets across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Comparable infrastructure-as-a-service model serving multiple mobile operator tenants.
• Crown Castle: US tower and fiber infrastructure operator with comparable tower-hosting and small cell/DAS business. Similar mix of broadcast-adjacent and mobile operator customers and similar recurring lease economics.
• Helios Towers: EMEA-focused tower operator with presence across multiple African and Middle Eastern markets. Comparable tower-hosting model serving MNOs in markets where broadcast and telecom infrastructure are both growth drivers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EITowers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ei-towers-s.p.a./about

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EI Towers