The tower made of technologically treated wood provides support for mobile antennas and other telecom kit for up to four carriers
5G vendors have made notable gains in reducing power consumption but not as much has been done about making passive tower equipment greener. Hrvatski Telekom wants to change that and has teamed up with Markoja to install a wooden mast, called Ecopol, n the village of Gradići, municipality of Velika Gorica. It is a free-standing, 40-metre-high cone-shaped tower, made of technologically processed wood. The telco said this innovative material ensures elasticity and long-term durability, with minimal impact on the environment.
Each tower can carry equipment from up to four different telecoms, and Hrvatski Telekom was the first to install antennas on the tower in Gradići, opening the door for other operators. According to the companies, Ecopoles also emit half as much carbon dioxide as traditional steel towers, and the materials used are completely recyclable.
“The Ecopol project represents an innovative step towards sustainable infrastructure, important for the development of the 5G network in Croatia. Telecommunication towers made of wooden construction, such as Ecopol in Gradići, not only reduce CO2 emissions in half compared to traditional steel poles, but also bring long-term resistance and greater security for cables that are integrated within the structure,” said Hrvatski Telekom technology and information technology member of the board Boris Drilo.
“Recyclable materials and innovative fire-resistant wood elements make it applicable in natural and tourist areas that require aesthetic and environmental compliance,” he added.
Ecopolis are designed with a focus on safety, including fire resistance and additional protection of built-in cables. “We are proud that Hrvatski Telekom was the first national operator to recognise the value of our Ecopol and set up its antennas on this innovative communication pillar, thus opening a new chapter in the development of sustainable telecommunications infrastructure in Croatia,” said Markoja founder and CEO Boris Markoja.
“This project perfectly reflects our commitment to the ‘5E’ values – energy, ecology, economics, aesthetics and ethics. Ecopol provides top-notch support for modern 5G technology with a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions, proving that technology and ecology can go hand in hand,” he said. “Our goal is to build the foundations for the future development of smart communities, all in line with sustainable business that contributes to the local population and the environment.”
European plans
In July this year, Markoja became a significant minority owner of the Finnish company Ecotelligent, which develops and builds passive telecommunications infrastructure made of engineered wood (LVL), and Markoja is the exclusive distributor of these poles in Croatia and the region. So far, two Ecopolis have been built, one in Gradići and the other in Podcrkavlje in Slavonia, and the third is currently under construction in the vicinity of Daruvar.
Markoja and Ecotelligent plan to expand the network of Ecopol towers across Europe, with a special focus on underserved areas and tourist centres, in cooperation with local communities and state-owned telecommunications and infrastructure operators.