Press Release

Breil-sur-Roya, September 19, 2024

TOTEM is modernizing its telecommunications infrastructure in Breil-sur-Roya, helping mobile operators to improve coverage for the valley. TOTEM carried out work to strengthen one of its towers and make it taller, to host equipment from new operators. This complex undertaking was meticulously planned by TOTEM’s experts. Helicopter drops were used because of the difficulty of reaching the site by road. With more operators sharing the TOTEM tower, better mobile connectivity can be achieved in the valley, while limiting the environmental impact.

Thanks to this operation, Bouygues Telecom (and SFR, sharing networks) will now be able to provide 3G/4G mobile coverage to the lower part of the village of Breil-sur-Roya. Orange will also maintain its presence on this shared site, where it had already installed 3G/4G equipment.

With the telecommunications infrastructure in the Roya Valley badly damaged by storm Alex in 2020, TOTEM developed a robust plan to meet the growing mobile connectivity needs of Breil-sur-Roya’s residents and visitors, while strengthening the economic attractiveness of the valley. The company also took care to ensure that the updated infrastructure was as stable and secure as possible.

There were several stages to the operation:

On July 25, 2024, around thirty helicopter trips were coordinated by TOTEM, to transport the concrete needed to reinforce the site;

On September 16, TOTEM removed Orange’s equipment, and the next day disassembled the tower to move it to a secure area;

Finally, on September 19, TOTEM erected the taller tower, which was lifted into place by helicopter.

Once these operations are completed, TOTEM will reinstall Orange’s equipment and install Bouygues Telecom’s antennas.

TOTEM, a Tower Company, manages, develops and maintains a portfolio of nearly 20,000 high-grade infrastructure elements (towers and rooftops), all over France. It makes its tower sites available to operators, so they can address mobile coverage needs, while prioritizing the shared use of the infrastructure. Shared used means ever better mobile coverage in all areas, including the most rural, while limiting the environmental impact of communication infrastructures.

Sébastien Olharan, Mayor of Breil-sur-Roya and local councilor declared: “I am delighted that the operators have chosen to share facilities to improve mobile coverage while avoiding the proliferation of towers. It means we can pursue all our preferred objectives: improving safety on the Roya valley road, and improving local people’s quality of life and broadband access, while maintaining the authenticity of the valley and the beauty of its landscapes.”

Thierry Papin, CEO of TOTEM France said: “Rolling out mobile networks is a major challenge and priority for local government, companies, and local inhabitants. TOTEM, a leading tower company in France, is proud to adapt its infrastructure to the connectivity needs of the people of Breil-sur-Roya. This project means we can host new operators thanks to shared use of the infrastructure, and so enhance the attractiveness of the area and accelerate its digital transformation.”

“Bouygues Telecom worked alongside the people of the Roya Valley following Storm Alex in 2020, and is continuing to invest in the Breil-sur-Roya community to ensure the best quality of service for its customers, including on the roads,” underlines Julien Lair, Regional Director for Bouygues Telecom’s Center, Alps and Mediterranean network. “We are pleased to collaborate with TOTEM to successfully complete this project and bring in the SFR network as part of our shared network agreement.”

About TOTEM

TOTEM, an Orange subsidiary, is a new TowerCo company with the ambition to become a leading player in Europe. As of November 2021, TOTEM is present in France and Spain.

As an independent and neutral  player, TOTEM is well-placed to offer infrastructure and connectivity solutions that create value for its customers. With its current footprint of 27,300 towers (ground-based and rooftop based), TOTEM provides mutualized solutions for operators, as well as Distributed Antenna Solutions (DAS) for dense and enclosed areas such as stadiums or public transport.

Connectivity, for everyone, everywhere, is at the heart of TOTEM’s strategy, bringing together operators, local authorities, landlords and companies.

More information: https://www.totemtowers.com/

Press contact:

Mathilde Boistay: mathilde.boistay@totemtowers.com +33 6 73 45 53 69

Camille Poignon: bonjour@camillepoignon.fr +33 6 21 23 23 59