Vodafone Spain is preparing to restructure its passive infrastructure strategy with the aim of redistributing some of its telecommunications sites between Cellnex and American Tower Corporation (ATC).

The move will reduce the role of Vantage Towers, the Vodafone-owned firm that has been one of the Spanish operator’s main tower providers to date.

The move is part of a new strategy spearheaded by Zegona, owner of Vodafone Spain since 2024, aimed at optimizing operating costs and renegotiating infrastructure contracts considered strategic for the company’s mobile network.

Vodafone Spain signed an extended infrastructure agreement with Cellnex earlier this month.

According to Expansión, Vodafone Spain will gradually replace some of the sites managed by Vantage Towers through new agreements with Cellnex and American Tower.

The redistribution aims to improve the financial terms of the contracts and increase the network’s operational flexibility, at a time when operators continue to review their cost structures to finance the necessary investments in 5G, fiber, and future mobile networks.

Vantage Towers has long been Vodafone's main tower operator in Spain. However, since Zegona took ownership of Vodafone Spain in 2024, Zegona has sought to get out of its contracts that have bound the carrier to Vantage, reports Expansión.

Vantage Towers was formed as a spin-off from Vodafone, hosting the telco's passive infrastructure throughout Europe. The towerco is now majority-owned by Oak Holdings, the holding company owned by Vodafone, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), and KKR.

The European telecommunications infrastructure market has undergone a profound transformation with the growth of so-called tower companies. Companies such as Cellnex, American Tower, and Vantage Towers manage tens of thousands of sites that they lease to multiple operators under a shared infrastructure model.

This strategy accelerates the deployment of new technologies, reduces duplication, and optimizes the use of physical assets, while freeing up capital so that operators can focus their investments on networks, services, and spectrum.

Vodafone Spain’s decision also reflects the growing competition among major tower operators to secure long-term contracts with telecommunications companies. These agreements guarantee recurring revenue and solidify the position of tower companies as essential players within the digital infrastructure ecosystem.

This piece was automatically translated from DCD's Spanish site and edited by a member of DCD staff.