Kilkenny clubs offered ‘upfront payments’ to host telecoms towers

Kilkenny sports clubs are being offered “upfront payments” to fund improvements to their facilities in return for hosting telecommunications towers on their grounds.

Vantage Towers, which describes itself as “one of Europe’s leading mobile communication infrastructure providers”, said that under its “Optimise Programme”, clubs “can quickly free up capital to help
to fund new clubhouses, dressing rooms or artificial pitches”.

A spokesperson said: “Sports clubs are increasingly hosting communications towers, helping to
improve connectivity in their areas and gaining a source of ongoing income for a relatively small land footprint.”

It said Banteer Community Sportsfield CLG in Cork received an upfront payment from Vantage Towers, which enabled them “to raise vital capital funding towards their new community development”.

Banteer CLG secretary Denis Withers (pictured) said: “Entering into a long-term lease agreement with Vantage Towers, in preference to receiving a rental payment, meant that our community benefitted on the double.

“We have built a full-sized astro pitch for all sports to use, as well as changing and spectators facilities, a café, museum and a digital hub – this new centre provides a real recreation and social and meeting point for our community of 800 people.

“The tower has also meant a major improvement in mobile phone and broadband coverage in the local area.”

Vantage Towers Ireland managing director Brian McHugh added: “This is an opportunity to do a deal with a company that has a unique interest in developing infrastructure and a long history of partnership
with landlords in Ireland.

“This is not a quick turnaround investment, it is part of a long-term strategy of connecting communities and encouraging economic and social development.”

Vodafone established Vantage Towers as a standalone company to own, manage, and add to the physical network it has constructed over the last 30 years.

Vantage Towers now manages over 1,300 sites in Ireland – and 85,000 sites across Europe.