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Outsourcing passive wireless infrastructure to neutral host TowerCos is a global trend that provides compelling benefits to mobile network operators (MNOs), the wider wireless sector and, ultimately, the consumer:
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Read moreDelivering the Digital Decade ambition requires substantial private and public funding. Neutral host TowerCos play an integral role by directly contributing private capital investment, releasing private capital to MNOs and fostering an investment-friendly ecosystem. TowerCos also bring operating efficiencies and sustainability benefits, enable downstream competition, and ultimately benefit consumers with improved service and prices.
EY-Parthenon teams and the European Wireless Infrastructure Association (EWIA) have consistently published reports on the European neutral host wireless infrastructure sector. This series commenced in March 2015 and has been updated periodically with refreshed editions in 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2024. Additionally, a March 2023 report focused on the sustainability contributions of the sector that complemented this series. The current report provides an update on the economic contributions of the European wireless infrastructure sector, with its previous version published in May 2024. For convenience, the neutral host wireless infrastructure is commonly referred to as neutral host TowerCos or simply “TowerCos.”
Information for this report was sourced from EWIA member companies, analyst reports, Towerxchange website and EY-Parthenon analysis, May 2025. The trends described in this report are expected to continue as demonstrated by market activity which was ongoing at the time of publication and is not included in this report’s figures.
Ulrich Loewer, James Langlands, David Coulson, Gareth Shier and Rob Harris-Deans of EY-Parthenon authored this article.
EY-Parthenon and the European Wireless Infrastructure Association (EWIA) have conducted a series of studies on the economic contribution of the European mobile tower sector. The studies examine the important role of independent wholesale wireless infrastructure provider (independent TowerCos), which will continue to play a significant role, underpinning modern digital economies for the long term. The studies aim to foster a better understanding of the benefits that independent TowerCos can provide in generating investment and promoting efficient use of communication infrastructure and the role they can play in delivering the EU’s Gigabit Vision 2025 and other government targets, e.g., mobile coverage and 5G rollouts.
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