Category: News

In a report published just now, Emitel summarized the actions it took in 2022 in the areas of ESG, i.e. environmental protection, social responsibility, and corporate governance.

2022 was a very intensive year for Emitel, both strategically and operationally. The company gained a new owner, Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited, a fund that invests in digital infrastructure assets in the UK, Europe, and North America. In the middle of the year, Emitel ended refarming the 700 MHz band and changing the standard of digital terrestrial television broadcasting. It was one of the most complex and demanding projects in the company’s history, and nearly 300 experts worked on it for 130,000 man-hours.

Environmental, social, and corporate governance concerns are the standards by which business leaders operate. Such ideas are also important for the company, which has been appreciated, because Emitel in the periodic survey GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) was among the best companies among the 649 participating in the study, earning 93 points and finishing 5^th in its category.

– Social responsibility, environmental concerns, respect for, and adherence to the highest standards of corporate governance have been our priority for years. We focus on the development of our employees, paying particular attention to initiatives supporting equal opportunities in the framework of internal promotions, or equal pay for women and men. We are actively involved in charities and employee volunteering. We have also been focusing on cooperation with science for years, supporting selected cultural events and sports initiatives. As usual, we wanted to shed more light on these actions in our annual ESG report. – said Andrzej J. Kozłowski, President of the Management Board, Emitel S.A.

Last year, the company undertook numerous initiatives in support of war-torn Ukraine and refugees residing in Poland. In cooperation with Polish broadcasters, Emitel launched radio and television broadcasts in Ukrainian and adapted one of the administrative buildings in Poznań, which is used by mothers with children seeking refuge from the war. Importantly, the finishing works were carried out by the employees themselves of Emitel as part of the employee volunteering. The transfer of several batches of radiotelecommunication equipment for the reconstruction of the broadcasting network in Ukraine has made it possible to resume and maintain a stable transmission of the television signal in the liberated areas of Ukraine.

Emitel is continuously raising its standards of human capital management. For the attention to the well-being of employees, close communication, and creating opportunities for their development, Emitel has been awarded the title of Top Employer Polska for the fourth time. In turn, the Responsible Business Forum in its report presented further good CSR practices taken by Emitel, such as counteracting improper behavior and abuse, equal opportunities in the workplace, health, and safety at work, social dialog within the company, development, and education, digitalization of workplace, Mindfulness Academy or health promotion. The CSR Silver Leaf was awarded to the company for its activities in the field of sustainable development, environmental protection, social responsibility, and corporate governance

Polish version:  https://www.emitel.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Raport-ESG_Emitel_2022.pdf 

English version: here

 

 

 

Under the signed agreement, Emitel together with the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) will carry out a pilot implementation of the system of advertising spot broadcasting in the DAI model. The project will test the functionality and efficiency of the system. The scope of the tests will cover chosen types of digital TV platforms in Poland. Implementation will begin in the second half of March.

For many years, Emitel has been developing products of so-called hybrid TV, including Addressable TV solutions. One such solution is the DAI (Dynamic Ad Insertion) platform, which allows, among others, the placement of specific spots in advertising blocks based on predefined criteria. In practice, this means that viewers will see different advertising spots when they watch a TV channel during the broadcast of an advertising block. This solution allows the TV screens to show at the same time various content adapted to the viewer (the condition is to connect the TV set to the Internet).

– The WSE aims to build a comprehensive technology platform that will enable the implementation of the service of dynamic insertion of television advertising, i.e. DAI. The system is to function in digital terrestrial television, cable networks, satellite networks, and streaming platforms. It will allow broadcasters to convert their TV advertising spots into tailored ones. Together with Emitel, we are launching the implementation and testing of the system’s functionality. Advertising will be carried out on decoders to eventually build a nationwide reach and allow advertisers to design campaigns and match content through our system, using devices that are located in households. This is the basic distinguishing feature of our project. By testing different technologies, we want to make sure that we can build the widest possible range of devices in different operators across the country – emphasized Maciej Stanecki, Vice-President of the Management Board of GPW DAI S.A.

With the system, advertising campaigns will reach specific audiences that meet specific segmentation criteria. The use of this technology for advertising may in the future provide an attractive added value for advertisers, who will be able to run advertising campaigns more effectively, along the lines of what is already available on the Internet.

First of all, there will be a pilot implementation of the system of advertising spot broadcasting in the DAI model – Emitel has just signed a contract with the Warsaw Stock Exchange for its implementation. The pilot will aim to test the functionality and effectiveness of DAI in all types of digital TV platforms in Poland. As part of the project, Emitel is responsible for the installation and configuration of the system, which will be connected to the infrastructure provided by the WSE. Implementation of the solution and tests will begin in the second half of March and will include terrestrial, cable, satellite television, and IPTV. If the tests are successful, WSE intends to launch a commercial DAI platform in Poland next year.

– Emitel has been working on the implementation of DAI technology for several years. Working with TV broadcasters, we understand how this solution can be a breakthrough for our partners. In a tough advertising market, DAI opens up new opportunities for much more efficient use of advertising time, which should translate into better financial results for broadcasters, while allowing viewers to avoid seeing ads they are not interested in. We are all the more pleased that such a serious player as the Warsaw Stock Exchange is trying to build this solution on the market in Poland and that we can be part of this undertaking and create such modern solutions in our country. It is also worth emphasizing that the platform we will be implementing covers all digital ways of distributing television channels, not just digital terrestrial television – emphasized Maciej Staszak, Vice-President of the Management Board of Emitel S.A.

Emitel will build a monitoring system for 1,000 parking spaces in Ostrow Wielkopolski, commissioned by the Municipal Road Administration. An Internet of Things based technology will help drivers find available parking spaces faster.

Emitel will build a network and install 1,000 parking sensors in the city’s six parking lots and 10 smart information boards. The sensors will have two independent systems for vehicle detection in parking spaces – radar and magnetic. As part of the cooperation with the MRA in Ostrów Wielkopolski, Emitel will also implement an IT system to manage the solution.

The parking space monitoring system will use the LoRaWAN and GSM networks for communication with the information boards. Additionally, it will be possible to make the information on free parking spaces available to dedicated parking apps.

“Ostrów Wielkopolski wants to become a Smart City that is increasingly friendly to its residents. By implementing a system for monitoring parking spaces in our city, we are improving the quality of life for its residents, but also creating infrastructure that allows better management of the city. The system will make it easier to find a parking space. It will be expandable as the needs increase,”- said Mikołaj Kostka, Deputy President of Ostrów Wielkopolski.

The system will cost almost PLN 1.7 million to build. The money comes entirely from European Union financing, from the project entitled ‘E-Ostrów 2050 – Ecological, Energy, Economic City’, and from the government budget.

“We are extremely pleased that Ostrów Wielkopolski has decided to build a system that is already working perfectly in other places in Poland. We are convinced that the implementation of the Smart City concept can provide tangible benefits for residents, public administration units, and private companies, and at the same time we are proud that Emitel’s solutions significantly contribute to the development of Smart Cities in Poland,” This solution will not only help to more quickly locate free parking spaces, but it will also reduce the traffic of cars circulating in search of a vacant parking space. In addition, less driving means less CO2 emissions, which also means cleaner air” –  emphasized Maciej Staszak, the Vice President of the Management Board of Emitel S.A.

Smart City projects implemented by Emitel

Emitel has extensive experience in the development of Smart City solutions. It was one of the first companies to launch innovative projects in cooperation with local governments. Within the LoRaWAN network provided by the company, local governments can implement solutions that improve the standard of living of their residents, help reduce pollution, and support the management of urban resources. Emitel has already implemented advanced Smart City solutions in Wrocław and Piaseczno, among other locations.

In Wrocław, Emitel has built an innovative system for remote reading of parameters from water meters for the Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Company (MPWiK). This is the first Smart City project of this scale in Poland that uses the LoRaWAN network. The project included a network that covered the entire city of Wrocław. Emitel provides maintenance and operation of the entire system. The expected results include significant savings in infrastructure management costs, as well as a lower burden on residents who use the city’s water supply services. These types of solutions even allow each household to control water consumption individually, for example by using a simple smartphone application.

On January 31, 2023, Telewizja Polska S.A. signed an agreement with Emitel S.A., a technical operator of terrestrial broadcasting infrastructure, for the transmission of the signal of the Sixth Multiplex (MUX-6). The agreement is valid for four years and will enter into force on February 1, 2023.

MUX-6 will cover 96% of the country’s population. The new MUX-6 multiplex is the second (near MUX-3) terrestrial multiplex, which contains only the program offer of the public broadcaster.

All viewers of digital terrestrial television will be able to benefit from the new multiplex. – The entire program offer of MUX-6 is widely available and free of charge in high definition (HD). The launch of the new digital multiplex is in line with the mission of Telewizja Polska S.A. to make its program offer as widely available as possible. In the new multiplex, viewers of digital terrestrial television will be able to watch, among others, thematic channels such as TVP Kultura, TVP Dokument, TVP Kobieta, TVP Polonia, TVP Nauka or TVP Nauka – emphasizes Marcin Klepacki, Director of Distribution Office at TVP S.A.

– Terrestrial television is extremely popular in Poland. The change of broadcasting technology to a more efficient DVB-T2/HEVC standard has created the opportunity to improve the quality of the image and sound of the programs broadcast so far and to provide space for the launch of new TV programs. Therefore, we encourage all viewers who have not yet adapted their TVs to receive the new standard to replace the TV set or to stock up with the appropriate set-top box. We are glad that Telewizja Polska decided to use the possibility of expanding the program offer and that it decided to cooperate in this regard with Emitel – said Maciej Staszak, Vice-president of the Management Board, Chief Sales Officer at Emitel.

Telewizja Polska together with the dynamically developing media market expands its program offer with new programs. New frequency resources are therefore needed to provide an ever-expanding offer to viewers.

The MUX-6 broadcast is carried out from 63 broadcast stations and to have access to the offer of MUX-6 digital terrestrial television viewers can use their existing receiving antennas. For areas where the TVP S.A. test multiplex was not present, TV sets should automatically search for new programs from the MUX-6 multiplex. Should this not happen, you should scan your set to find new programs from the program offer of Telewizja Polska S.A.

New broadcast stations that will complement the MUX-6 broadcast network in relation to the network of the test multiplex are: Płock/Radziwie, Wałbrzych/Chełmiec, Dobromierz, Różan near Maków Mazowiecki, Gniezno/Dębowiec, Świerczów near Namysłów, Skierniewice/Bartniki, Tarnobrzeg/Machów, Włodawa, Łomża, Kamieńsk/Zwałowisko near Radomsko, Chruszczewka near Sokołów Podlaski, and Sieciechów near Kutno.

Emitel has successfully obtained a certificate confirming the compliance of its Environmental Management System with the PN-EN ISO14001:2015 international standard. The certification process was preceded by extensive efforts to implement the system, develop and gather the required documentation, as well as internal audits, which took several months. The final element of the process, the certification audits conducted by PCC-CERT, an independent certification body, confirmed that Emitel meets the environmental requirements outlined by the standard.

The ISO14001:2015 standard specifies standardised environmental management guidelines and policies, which can be implemented in any organisation, regardless of the sector and the area of its operation. The document is centred around the idea of sustainable development – it assumes conducting operations in a way that ensures a proper balance between social expectations, environmental protection and a business-oriented approach.

Emitel has been following these principles long before making the decision to implement the system, pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals and reporting on the achieved results in its ESG reports. The key environmental aspect, which follows from the company’s core business of providing terrestrial broadcasting infrastructure operator services and the resulting emissions of electromagnetic fields is monitored and controlled at each stage of project implementation. Emitel puts every effort to ensure that the company’s operations in this field have the least possible impact on the surrounding environment.

“Taking care of the environment is our top priority. In order to increase the effectiveness of our activities in this area, as well as to minimise our negative impact, we decided to implement a system based on an international environmental standard that enjoys worldwide recognition. The successful implementation of the environmental management system was made possible mainly thanks to the collaboration and commitment of employees, and I would like to thank every person involved in this process. The regular monitoring of the outcomes of our environmental activities, the implementation of the goals we set for ourselves, as well as compliance with the requirements of the standard, allows us to keep a close eye on the results and opens various avenues to improve them in the future,” said Andrzej J. Kozłowski – President of the Management Board of Emitel S.A.

The overarching goal of the environmental management system is safeguarding the environment by minimising the negative impact of the company’s processes and operations. Implementing the ISO 14001:2015 standard brings a number of environmental, organizational and economic benefits. Thanks to an efficient environmental management system, Emitel is able to further reduce emissions of harmful substances and waste production, while improving waste management processes and limiting the company’s water use and wastewater production.

The certificate obtained by Emitel is valid for 3 years. The ISO 14001 standard provides for continuous improvement in the effectiveness of an environmental management system implemented by the company. The structure of the standard and the resulting systemic approach results directly from the so-called PDCA cycle – a model for optimising and improving processes in an organization.

In cooperation with the City and Commune Office of Piaseczno, Emitel expanded the monitoring system for parking spaces in Piaseczno. This is the next stage of the project, under which more than 300 parking spaces are already available, monitored with the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The project was awarded in the Smart City Poland Award 2022 competition during the Smart City Expo Poland event held in Łódź in October.

The scope of works carried out by Emitel in Piaseczno included the launch of 202 parking sensors in three city car parks – Kościelna, Puławska and Zgoda, and the installation of smart information boards. As part of cooperation with the City of Piaseczno, Emitel also launched an IT system for project management. It has also been integrated with the already operating parking sensors at the Zgoda city car park, implemented in the first stage of the project. In total, monitoring is available in Piaseczno for 316 parking spaces. These sensors use two systems to detect the vehicle in the parking space – radar and magnetic.

The free parking space monitoring system is based on the LoRaWAN telecommunications network, which provides low-power long-range wireless communication (LPWAN). The sensors, using the LoRaWAN protocol, send current information about the occupancy of parking spaces to the Emitel wireless network devices, then the data is transferred to the system operated by the City of Piaseczno.

– Cooperation with Emitel makes the Piaseczno Commune a real Smart City. Thanks to the use of technology, we increase the efficiency and interactivity of urban infrastructure – says Daniel Putkiewicz, Mayor of Piaseczno City and Commune. – Our ambition is to make our city more and more friendly to residents and to be able to fully use its potential – adds Daniel Putkiewicz.

Emitel’s cooperation with the City of Piaseczno won the recognition of the jury of the competition during the Smart City Expo Poland held on October 25-26 in Łódź. For the implementation of Smart City solutions in the Piaseczno Commune, Emitel received the 1st Prize in the Smart City Poland Award 2022 competition in the “Urban infrastructure” category.

Emitel has extensive experience in the development of Smart Cities solutions. As one of the first companies, it started the implementation of innovative projects in cooperation with local governments. As part of the LoRaWAN network provided by the Company, local governments can implement solutions that improve the standard of living of residents, help fight the problem of environmental pollution and support the management of urban resources.

– This is not the first cooperation between Emitel and the City of Piaseczno as part of the implementation of Smart City solutions. Openness to innovations on the part of the city authorities makes Piaseczno today a place that has earned the name of a Smart City and is one of the leaders in this field in Poland. Implementation of the Smart Cities concept can bring measurable benefits to residents, public administration units and private enterprises. We are extremely pleased that Emitel’s solutions significantly contribute to the development of smart cities in Poland – said Maciej Staszak, Vice-President of the Management Board of Emitel S.A.

 

The acquisition of Emitel S.A. (Emitel) by Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited (CDIL or the Company), a London Stock Exchange listed investment fund (“CORD”), has successfully been completed.

Emitel was acquired from Astatine Investment Partners, a leading private equity firm, with offices in the US and London.

CDIL invests in digital infrastructure assets in the United Kingdom, Europe and North America.  With its “buy, build and grow” investment strategy, CDIL is focused on the development of investee companies through the deployment of strategic insight, capital expenditure and funding for tactical acquisitions.

CDIL draws on the experience and deep sector knowledge of a team headed by Steven Marshall,  Chairman of Digital Infrastructure at Cordiant, who has previously served as President of American Tower and CEO of National Grid Wireless. The team currently manages assets with a total committed capital of around US$3 billion.

The agreement to sell Emitel to CDIL was signed on January 4, 2022. The finalization of the transaction was dependent on obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals from the Ministry of State Assets (MAP), the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA), and the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK).

“We’d like to thank the government of Poland for their support of this transaction and the confidence they have shown CDIL. Emitel is a great company with strong potential that has adopted a leadership role in the area of sustainability. We look forward to working side by side with the management  team  to deliver on their ambitions for the business and to unlock new avenues for growth. ”– said Steven Marshall, Chairman of Digital Infrastructure at Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Management.

The Emitel business fits well with CDIL’s area of expertise and focus and is complementary to České Radiokomunikace, a Czech national network of mobile towers and data centers acquired in 2021. CDIL is also the owner of Hudson Interxchange, a datacenter platform based in New York City’s Manhattan district, which was acquired in early 2022.

–  Emitel is not only the leading operator of the terrestrial broadcasting network and one of the key players in the market for telecommunication infrastructure in Poland; we are also systematically investing in the development of modern wireless communications systems that drive the economy and Internet of Things solutions. I am confident that the investment experience and know-how of CDIL will allow us to accelerate business development to take advantage of the new market opportunities like the development of critical ‘smart city’ technologies – said Andrzej J. Kozłowski, President of the Management Board at Emitel S.A. – I would like to take this opportunity to thank Astatine Investment Partners for their support in the implementation of the Emitel strategy and very good cooperation over the last seven years – he added.

About Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited

Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited invests primarily in the digital economy’s basic infrastructure – data centers, fiber networks, and broadcasting facilities and towers in the UK, Europe, and North America. More information about the Company can be found on its website at www.cordiantdigitaltrust.com

Cordiant Capital Inc. is the entity managing the Company’s investments focused on particular sectors and has knowledge and experience in digital infrastructure. Cordiant invests in global infrastructure and assets, pursuing the strategy through limited partnership funds and managed accounts. Cordiant’s current customer base consists of global insurance companies, pension funds, and private wealth management companies.

About Emitel

Emitel S.A. is the largest operator of terrestrial radio and television infrastructure in Poland. For more than 50 years, thanks to Emitel TV and radio signals can be received in all Polish homes. In addition to services for TV and radio broadcasters, Emitel offers a high-altitude infrastructure for mobile operators, designs and installs modern wireless communication systems, participates in the construction of smart cities, and joins the work on preparing the construction of the 5G network in Poland.

Care for the environment, society, and corporate governance are extremely important for Emitel, and the related activities are consistently implemented in the company

This is also evidenced by the results of the latest GRESB survey, evaluating the activities of companies in the field of social engagement and sustainable development. In this year’s edition, Emitel improved on last year’s result, gaining as many as 93 points out of 100 possible. Emitel was ranked fifth in its category and among the top 132 companies of the 649 participating in the survey.

Scoring 93 points means that Emitel improved on their last year’s result by 3 points. Successive activities within the framework of corporate social engagement, consistently implemented in the company, have contributed to a progressive increase in the number of points earned by Emitel. The company has been participating in the international GRESB survey since 2016, i.e. for seven years.

– Environmental concerns, sensitivity to the needs of others, and cooperation with local communities are inscribed in the DNA of our company. Nor have we been indifferent to the tragedy that has befallen the Ukrainian people recently, and that is why we have been committed to helping our neighbors. We also encourage our employees to engage in voluntary initiatives – one such project was to prepare a place of residence for refugees in one of our office buildings in Poznań. This year’s GRESB survey confirms that the high standards and actions undertaken by Emitel in the field of sustainable development are appreciated by evaluators. I thank all employees of Emitel for their attitude and congratulate them on the excellent result in the study – said Andrzej J. Kozłowski, President of the Management Board of Emitel S.A.

GRESB – Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark – independent research, every year since 2009 has been analyzing companies for sustainable development, environmental protection, social responsibility, and corporate governance (ESG) activities. The GRESB study is considered a benchmark for funds that invest in infrastructure companies and real estate worldwide

Emitel donated another batch of radiotelecommunication equipment for the reconstruction of the broadcasting network in Ukraine. Delivery of 50 pieces of TV transmitters will enable the resumption and maintenance of stable transmission of TV signal in the liberated areas of the country.

As a result of the Russian rocket attacks and bombing, several dozen Ukrainian broadcasting centers were damaged. The relaunch and maintenance of television and radio broadcasting is essential for the security of citizens, not least in view of the information war being waged by Russia. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Emitel has been supporting the Ukrainian government in the successive reconstruction of critical broadcasting infrastructure.

In May this year Emitel organized a technical and logistics point in the eastern part of the country, where the company’s experts configure and prepare for the transport of telecommunication and radiotelecommunication equipment. The equipment is shipped successively. Currently, Emitel has handed over 50 DVB-T transmitters to the Ukrainian side for terrestrial television broadcasting. In addition, an initiative has been taken to involve other European broadcast network operators within Broadcast Networks Europe (BNE). Thanks to this cooperation, supplies of necessary equipment, including TV and VHF transmitters and antennas, reach Poland and then Ukraine.

– When pictures of bombed Ukrainian towns and villages, including the destroyed TV tower in Kiev, circulated around the world in February this year, we immediately made contact with the Ukrainian authorities and offered our help. Our colleagues from telecommunication companies in Ukraine risk their lives fighting to maintain communications and broadcasting capabilities of Ukrainian television and radio. We know very well how important it is to reach out to citizens with news and other broadcasts that show the true picture of the events of this cruel war and maintain the spirit of the fight. This would not have been possible without a constant supply of appropriate equipment and facilities – said Andrzej Kozłowski, President of the Management Board of Emitel S.A.

Emitel has been involved in helping Ukraine since the beginning of the war. In cooperation with Polish broadcasters, radio and television broadcasts in the Ukrainian language were launched for refugees staying in Poland. Women and children fleeing from the war need safe shelter, a substitute for normal life, to be able to find work, schools or kindergartens, so in addition to material and financial support, the company has also decided to adapt one of the administrative buildings in Poznań for refugees from Ukraine. Importantly, the last finishing work was done by the employees themselves of Emitel as part of the employee volunteering. Currently there are about 25 people in this location, who are looked after by the association “Warto razem”, which has a lot of experience in helping the citizens of Ukraine.

– I am very glad that Emitel employees are also actively involved in helping the fighting Ukraine; they often devote their private time supporting Ukrainian refugees in Poland. As a company, we will continue to provide material and in-kind support to our friends from Ukraine. We know how much the Ukrainian people look forward to the end of the war and the possibility of rebuilding the country. When this happens, we will be ready to share our knowledge and experience in the construction of modern telecommunications infrastructure – added Andrzej Kozłowski, President of the Management Board of Emitel S.A.