What cablex does

cablex AG is a privately held Swiss network infrastructure services company headquartered in Gümligen, Switzerland, employing over 2,000 people across German-, French-, and Italian-speaking regions of the country. The company's core offering is end-to-end planning, construction, and maintenance of three categories of infrastructure: (i) ICT and telecom networks — including mobile 2G/3G/4G/5G site rollout, fiber/FTTH expansion, copper decommissioning, and ICT base infrastructure for carriers and enterprises; (ii) smart energy systems — photovoltaic, battery storage, EV charging infrastructure (including E-LKW/heavy-duty), and smart meter rollouts for utilities; and (iii) transport and rail infrastructure — electrical, safety, and communications installations for road and rail tunnels plus specialized trenchless civil engineering. Operationally, cablex combines a distributed field workforce, a proprietary SAR (site acquisition) mobile app, specialized cable extraction vehicles, an integrated FIO (fibre inhouse) methodology, and a drone-pilot program for remote-site material transport.

The company generates revenue predominantly through professional-services contracts: project-based engineering, installation, and commissioning fees, multi-year maintenance and 24/7 SLA-backed service desk contracts, and managed services for energy systems. Pricing is custom-quoted per project (e.g., a CHF 150,000 network reinforcement budget for the Egger EV charging project), while the cablex Academy provides SNiv-recognized training courses on a published fee schedule (CHF 260-3,750 per course). Customer concentration centers on a small set of anchor enterprise accounts — principally Swisscom (nationwide mobile, FTTH, and INFRABOX deployment across 7,000+ mast sites), BKW Energie AG (smart meter rollout 2024-2028), SBB (Ceneri Base Tunnel, LEB Lausanne, Bözberg), and a mix of public institutions and C&I customers. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales through dedicated Key Account Managers per language region and domain, supplemented by case-study-driven content marketing.

Name

cablex

Legal name

cablex AG

Website

https://cablex.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

cablex AG is a privately held Swiss ICT and network infrastructure services company employing 2,000+ technicians across Switzerland to plan, build, and maintain telecom (fiber/FTTH, 4G/5G), smart energy (PV, storage, EV charging, smart metering), and transport/tunnel infrastructure for carriers, utilities, rail operators, and C&I customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ICT & Network Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Electrical Work (1731)

akta.pro primary industry

Transmission Line Construction (Overhead & Underground) (IMAFAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Data, Communications & Fiber Optic Cable (IMADAMAD), Road & Tunnel Operations/Construction Interfaces (Tolling Infrastructure, Ventilation/Fire-Life-Safety Civil Works) (IMAFAEAL), Cable Management & Pathways (Racks/Panels/Trays/Conduits/Organizers) (HDAFALAH)

Keywords

• ICT network infrastructure services
• Fiber optic network construction
• Mobile network deployment
• Smart energy infrastructure
• Rail and road infrastructure works

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ICT & Telecom Infrastructure Services: cablex plans, builds, and maintains telecommunications networks (mobile, fiber/FTTH, copper, HFC) for carriers, system integrators, and enterprise customers across Switzerland. Revenue is generated through project-based installation, configuration, and commissioning services, as well as ongoing maintenance and operations contracts including 24/7 service desk agreements with SLA-based service levels.
2. Smart Energy Solutions: cablex delivers integrated energy solutions for commercial and industrial customers — covering PV system installation, battery storage deployment, EV charging infrastructure (AC/DC), smart meter rollout, and ZEV (Zusammenschluss zum Eigenverbrauch / energy community) implementations. Revenue comes from engineering and project management services, equipment supply and installation, and managed services for ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and energy reporting.
3. Transport & Rail Infrastructure: cablex provides electrical and ICT installations for road tunnels and rail infrastructure, including safety and self-rescue systems, emergency lighting, energy supply (medium and low voltage), cable technology, and tunneling communications. Revenue is generated through large-scale project delivery as general contractor or specialist subcontractor.
4. Training & Education (cablex Academy): cablex Academy provides professional and safety training courses in German, French, and Italian for network infrastructure technicians across Switzerland. Revenue is generated through course fees charged to cablex employees, SNiv members, and external participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

cablex plans, builds, and maintains high-performance ICT and network infrastructure across Switzerland, with a workforce of over 2,000 employees covering all language regions. Its core offerings span three domains: Telecom & IT (mobile 2G–5G and fixed-line fiber/FTTH, copper, and HFC networks), Smart Energy (photovoltaic systems, battery storage, EV charging infrastructure, and smart meter rollout), and Verkehr (road and rail infrastructure including tunnel safety systems and specialized civil engineering such as trenchless pipe jacking and directional drilling). Services run from planning and site acquisition through construction, commissioning, and 24/7 operations.

Product overview

cablex is a leading Swiss ICT and network infrastructure solutions provider offering a diversified portfolio of interconnected services. The core offerings include Smart Energy (photovoltaic systems, battery storage, EV charging infrastructure, and smart meter services), Telecom & IT (mobile networks, fixed networks including fiber/copper/HFC, and ICT infrastructure), and Verkehr (road and rail traffic infrastructure including tunnel systems). The company operates through specialized divisions including network construction, specialized civil engineering, digitalization services, and the cablex Academy for professional training. Smart Energy solutions integrate with photovoltaic, storage, and charging infrastructure, while Telecom & IT spans mobile network deployment and fixed-line fiber optic expansion (FTTH). The infrastructure division covers road traffic systems, railway installations, and trenchless construction methods. All divisions are supported by nationwide 24/7 service capabilities and digitalization services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• cablex Academy: Training facility for technical education and professional development in network construction and telecommunications
• Smart Energy
• smart cablex

Products and services

• Smart Energy Sustainable energy solutions encompassing photovoltaic installations, battery storage systems, EV charging infrastructure, and smart meter management for businesses, commercial property managers, and SMEs.
• Telecom & IT Comprehensive ICT solutions including mobile networks, fixed-line networks (fiber optics, copper, HFC), and nationwide ICT infrastructure services delivered 24/7 across Switzerland.
• Verkehr (Traffic Infrastructure) Infrastructure solutions for road and rail traffic including tunnel safety installations, traffic management systems, railway power supply, communication systems, and specialist civil engineering for road and rail environments.
• Glasfaserausbau (Fiber Optic Expansion) FTTH (Fiber to the Home) network expansion service bringing fiber optic connectivity directly to residential and commercial properties, executed in partnership with Swisscom.
• cablex Academy Professional training and education programs for network construction, service, and installation, delivered in German, French, and Italian, with SNiv-recognized certifications in telecommunications.
• Digitalisierung (Digitalization) Digital transformation services including data digitization, automation, AI integration, drone and robotic assistance, digital twins, and digital training solutions for infrastructure operations.
• Service & ICT-Infrastruktur (24/7 Managed Service) Nationwide 24/7 service and support for ICT infrastructure including installations, troubleshooting, maintenance, and FIO (Fiber Inhouse) services delivered through the service desk and dispatch organization.
• Netzbau (Network Construction) Cable-based and mobile network construction services including fiber optic, copper, and HFC network deployment, and infrastructure civil engineering for telecom carriers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400,000 smart meters installed by end of 2028 (500 exchanges per day)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

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 and minor.

• BKW Energie AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024cablex was selected by BKW in 2024 as the exclusive partner for smart meter installation across BKW's entire supply area — covering the Bernese Oberland, Bernese Mittelland, Oberaargau/Solothurn, and Jura/Seeland regions. The contract involves installing over 400,000 smart meters by end of 2028 (approximately 500 exchanges per day), representing a major strategic mandate for cablex's energy services division.
• FlyingBasketminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021FlyingBasket is an Italian cargo drone manufacturer. cablex partnered with FlyingBasket in 2021 for a pilot project in Graubünden to test the transport of 80–150 kg antenna materials to remote mountain sites using multicopter drones. The trial demonstrated potential to replace helicopter or crane logistics in challenging terrain.
• SwisscomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwisscom is cablex's primary strategic partner and largest customer. cablex executes major Swisscom infrastructure projects including nationwide fiber (FTTH) rollout, mobile network buildout (4G/5G), PV installations at Swisscom centrals, smart meter deployment, and EV charging infrastructure. cablex is a trusted long-term partner for end-to-end network and energy infrastructure delivery across Switzerland.
• SBBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBB (Swiss Federal Railways) is a key infrastructure customer for cablex. cablex has delivered multiple rail projects for SBB, including the Ceneri Base Tunnel, LEB Lausanne tunneling project, directional drilling under railway tracks, and Bözberg Tunnel escape route expansion.
• Swisscom (INFRABOX)coreTechnology or IntegrationSwisscom developed the INFRABOX smart monitoring unit for mobile base stations. cablex installs the INFRABOX as part of its nationwide mobile network rollout and maintenance work for Swisscom. The INFRAVISTA software platform (Swisscom) manages the data. The system has reduced Swisscom's energy consumption by ~9% per site.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Circet Group: France-headquartered, European leader in telecom infrastructure services (fiber/FTTH, mobile networks, fixed-line construction and maintenance). Direct same-business comparable to cablex in DACH, with similar build-operate-maintain model for carriers.
• Axians: VINCI Energies' ICT/telecom infrastructure brand operating across Europe, providing network design, build, and managed services for carriers and enterprises. Closely overlaps cablex's Telecom & IT and Smart Energy service portfolio.

Regional players

• Implenia AG: Switzerland's largest construction company, with strong positions in tunnel, civil, and building infrastructure. Competes with cablex's Verkehr (tunnel, rail, road) segment on the same Swiss public-tender market.
• Marti Group: Major Swiss family-owned construction group active in tunneling, civil engineering, and infrastructure. Overlaps with cablex on tunnel installations and rail/specialized civil engineering projects across Switzerland.

Broad incumbents

• Equans: Bouygues group's multi-technical services entity (formerly Bouygues Energies & Services), a large European incumbent spanning electrical, telecom, energy and transport infrastructure services. Comparable in scope to cablex, but at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• ABB: Swiss-headquartered global electrification, motion, and automation leader with energy and infrastructure solutions. Comparable to cablex in the energy/electrification domain (substations, grid) but operates at vastly larger scale and as a broad technology/equipment portfolio.

Emerging players

• Landis+Gyr: Swiss-headquartered global smart metering and grid intelligence specialist. While a technology/equipment vendor rather than installer, it sits at the same energy-utility smart-meter value chain where cablex delivers the BKW installation mandate.

Others

• Prysmian Group: World's largest cable manufacturer, producing fiber-optic and power cables that cablex installs. Adjacent ecosystem participant - supplier rather than competitor, but relevant as cablex's fiber and copper networks rely on Prysmian's product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cablexag
• Xx.com/cablexag
• Facebookfacebook.com/cablexAG

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 cablex