Category: News

In the latest instalment of our #TalentedTeamwork series, we chat to Sreto Jankic, Delmec’s Design Office Training Manager. He fills us in on the stroke of luck that saw him join our company, the great relationship he has with his team — and his love of the TV show, “Derry Girls”!

Ever since our early days in the 1970s, we’ve made it our mission here at Delmec to hire the brightest and the best in our industry. Sometimes people come to us seeking career advancement, or the chance to travel and learn exciting skills. Other times, it’s just what Sreto Jankik calls “pure luck”.

“I had no experience with telecoms, and at the time I wasn’t located in Ireland. It was a very long shot,” the Design Office Training Manager says. “But it all worked out brilliantly, and fit like a glove — I found everything I needed as a young engineer seeking to learn and grow, while Delmec got someone who’s willing to embrace every opportunity and really put their shoulder to the wheel.”

It’s the positive, uplifting environment that he has found most beneficial, even now, more than five years later. “I have a dynamic role,” he explains. “My work involves management, training, engineering, and consulting, all with different departments.” It’s that variety that really appeals to his nature, as no two days are ever the same. “I like Delmec’s people, their professional approach, and even the challenges that go along with the work,” he says.

Sreto spends most of his time upskilling and training new engineers as Delmec expands. “My job is to support the team and help them grow and build their careers in Delmec,” he tells us. When asked what advice he gives new hires, he’s unequivocal: “Don’t be afraid. Hit that wall. Make mistakes. Learn. Adapt. It’s worth it.”

He says that while his role is mostly internal, he always has an eye to the most important external factor: our community of clients around the world. “I want to show our clients that we have a strong team, with unique capabilities and cutting-edge skills,” he says. “Every day we work hard to make sure that Delmec is — and always will be — the best choice for them.” 

Sreto’s team maintains a busy schedule, but there’s plenty of time for a little levity too, especially in a group of creative-minded people. “There is so much fun among the guys in Design,” he smiles. “Between the working chats and meetings, our team shares gifs, memes and jokes with each other — it really lifts the spirits and makes the day fly by.”

During his downtime, Sreto enjoys watching comedy: “One of my favourite TV shows is “Derry Girls”,” he laughs. “It’s fantastic and absolutely hilarious.” On the weekends, he sometimes visits the Coumshingaun Loop Walk in the Comeragh Mountains in Waterford. He enjoys hiking, but likes to keep his two feet firmly on the ground, having discovered he’s not a fan of heights during a Delmec tower training course. He’s happy to leave that to the climbers on our team!

Looking ahead, Sreto believes that we’re entering an exciting time in our industry’s trajectory, and feels that Delmec is in a good position to overcome new challenges and embrace fresh opportunities. “In the last five years, the company has changed a lot and with that I’ve changed as well,” he says. “But I like where it went and can’t wait to see where It will go.”

For this edition of our #TalentedTeamwork series, we catch up with Ludovic Paluku, a Senior Project Manager. He has much to share about his time with Delmec, including the joy of taking on new challenges and celebrating successes in the DRC – with a feast of barbecued goat!

At Delmec, our employees are at the heart of everything we do. That’s true whether they’re scaling towers in South Africa, piloting drones in Poland or developing software in Ireland. Our latest dispatch from the field comes from Ghana, where Ludovic Paluku talks us through his role managing varied projects in an ever-changing environment.

“I didn’t really choose this industry, I stumbled upon it,” laughs Ludovic, remembering his move from construction to telecoms 7 years ago.“ I was drawn to Delmec because it was new – and dynamic.”

He’s happiest when he’s most productive, he says, and relishes problem-solving: “I like my job, and I feel proud when myself and my team are able to remove an issue from a client’s list. We’re there to make their lives easier, their operations more efficient, and their bottom lines all the stronger.” 

Ludovic’s skills take him to lots of different locations, where he embraces the opportunity to meet new people and take on fresh tasks. “I enjoy the pace of the work, and the challenge of overcoming difficulties, whether they’re logistical, technical or administrative” he says, pointing out that the international nature of his team keeps things interesting. “On any given day I interact with people from various cultures residing in many different parts of the world.” Ludovic speaks four languages fluently and can exchange pleasantries in 10 – a useful skill to have for anyone who operates across the vast African continent.

Of all the site locations he’s visited, one that stands out for him is Brazaville, near the town of Ouesso in Northern Congo. “The scenery was beautiful,” he says. “The village was by a huge river which carved its way through the thick equatorial forest; the simplicity of everything in that village has really stayed with me.”

At Delmec, we celebrate our colleagues’ successes in many ways, from recognition awards in our offices to team rewards in the field. These get-togethers are among Ludovic’s favourite memories: “We used to have ‘goat parties’ when I started in DRC,” he recalls. “The best-performing team at the end of the month would get a goat as a bonus and usually invited the rest of the team for a barbecue.” This made for a delicious supper, he says, as well as a great way to foster team spirit.

Nowadays, Ludovic likes to spend his down-time with his family, but as a music fan, he also squeezes in guitar practice when he can. He’s been learning for four years, so hopefully he can play at one of our team events soon!

At work, he’s focused on developing his project teams, encouraging them to be as efficient as they can be. “A strong Delmec team means a better quality of service for our clients,” he points out, highlighting the many ways that he and his colleagues knit together their unique experiences and expertise. “Our partners in the industry know they can rely on us to provide global support, with smart solutions and game-changing innovations.” 

His advice for new hires? “Get comfortable with change,” he says. “In the future, I think we’ll see more fragmentation of the telecom industry, but Delmec will continue to fulfill its valuable, long-standing role, serving clients and customers all over the world.”

In the third installment of our #TalentedTeamwork series, we sit down with Áine Kenna, Delmec’s Sales Development Manager. She tells us what she enjoys most about her job, how rewarding it is to help connect communities – and why she’s hanging up her dancing shoes for now.

At Delmec, synergy shapes success, and that starts with our people, who work together every day to make our company the globally-recognised industry leader that it is. For this staff spotlight, we talk to Áine Kenna, who takes us through her busy working life as Sales Development Manager at Delmec.

Having completed a business qualification, Áine chose to follow in her father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in the world of manufacturing. Moving into telecommunications, she joined Delmec four years ago, and quickly found her niche in sales. There, she helps clients expand their portfolios by providing on-the-ground support and design services. “The key objective for all people working in the telecoms industry is connectivity, and balancing demand versus fulfillment,” she says. “No matter what part we play, it’s all working towards the end goal of connecting people around the world.”

For Áine, no two days are ever the same: “We work with our clients to support them in fulfilling ever-growing demand. That could mean assisting with BTS rollout, urban and rural solutions, structure swap-out or rectifications, and maintenance programs – as well as many more developments to come.”

Her work means that while she’s based in Carlow, Ireland, she’s often on the road or in the air to attend conferences, meet clients and arrange site visits. “I count myself lucky to travel with my job. It’s given me the opportunity to see some beautiful places, like Dar es Salaam in Tanzania – the landscape, culture and people are amazing there. With Delmec offices all around the world, I’m sure I’ll be adding to the location list very soon.”

Every year, Áine and her colleagues travel to TowerXChange events for Africa, Asia, Europe and MENA. “These are key get-togethers for us, where we learn about important topics and pain points for towercos, MNOs or service providers. It keeps the industry exciting, with a regular flow of new developments to roll out and fresh challenges to overcome.”

For newcomers to telecommunications, this fast pace of change can sometimes feel overwhelming, but Áine learned early that every day is a school day in our sector. “The best advice I got when joining Delmec was to resist the temptation to learn everything all at once,” she says. “That’s still something I try to bear in mind, as our work changes daily. No one person is expert in everything, so I recommend that new hires learn from their colleagues, take any opportunity they can to get involved, and most importantly, have fun – if you enjoy what you do, it makes everything so much easier.”

At Delmec, we’re serious about our work, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a few laughs along the way. Áine is part of our social committee, so she helps to organise our charitable shoebox appeals and coffee mornings, as well as our annual Christmas hamper day – in full elf costume, no less! She’s been known to contribute the odd traditional Irish song to our Christmas party too, although we can’t tempt her to show off her hip hop dancing skills. While she won many awards for her moves in the past, she says she’s retired her split-sole sneakers. “Unfortunately, I am no Shakira!” she laughs. “I prefer to watch from the sidelines now, whether it’s dancing, football or hurling. Nobody cheers louder, though – I’m a lifelong fan of all things GAA-related.”

When it comes to motivation, Aine says that it’s her colleagues who inspire her every day. “It might sound cheesy, but honestly, I’m ‘proudly Delmec’,” she says. “I see a huge future for us within the industry, as we grow our diverse and talented team, partner with leading industry stakeholders, and constantly strive to provide the very best service for our global clients. It’s an exciting time to be part of the Delmec team.”

At Delmec, synergy shapes success, and that means working with and learning from a wide variety of colleagues across the global telecoms industry. One such opportunity arose on the 12th May, when we organised a webinar on the ‘Opportunities and Challenges in the SE Asian Market’.

The discussions focused on the findings of the 2022 Delmec SE Asian Telecom Sector Survey, which revealed key insights into the rapid digitisation, shifting infrastructure and improved government support in the region. In hosting this webinar, we sought to further explore the survey responses, learning from each other about how to adapt to challenges and seize opportunities in the SE Asia telecommunications landscape.

The attendees were globally-located, dialling in from towerco, MNO and investor offices across Asia, Europe and Africa. They were all keen to hear from some of the industry’s most authoritative voices, including Charles C (Chuck) Green III, the co-founder and former executive chairman of Helios Towers and Delmec advisory board member, Thiru Nadarasa, the Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Sri Lanka and Damien Kelly, Head of Innovation and Engineering at Delmec.

“The discussion was well rounded, with each panellist drawing from exceptional experience in their field,” says Damien, pointing out that the speakers all came from diverse backgrounds. “Chuck offered an insight into the towerco perspective, Thiru provided the voice of MNOs, while I spoke for service providers like Delmec.” Mohan Villavarayan, our Asia Regional Business Manager, served as moderator, expertly guiding the group through the various topics within the allocated time.

He opened the discussions with a hot topic: digitisation. The Delmec survey revealed that 50% of tower owners in SE Asia have already digitised their portfolios, although it was agreed during the webinar that the meaning of the term ‘digitisation’ can vary depending on the location, sector or team involved. However, with 82% of survey participants prioritising digitalisation, the next five years will see significant progress across the board. “It’s the vital cog that will facilitate the realisation of the diverse goals and objectives of all tower owners,” Mohan says. “But it’s important to bear in mind that the accrued benefits must justify the costs.”

It was encouraging to hear that the survey results were largely confirmed by the panellists, who agreed with Delmec’s findings. “Both survey feedback and panel discussion aligned in terms of infrastructure and trends, as well as the future of the industry,” Damien points out. “The focus for us all will be on connectivity, ESG and costs.”

Mohan further explains that these connectivity needs of TSPs – fuelled by the spike in demand for high data throughputs in hitherto under-served areas – will drive the shape and size of infrastructure required to host the radio access networks. “The survey shows that a significant shift is expected towards next-gen infrastructure that is both environment-friendly and blends into the surrounding landscape,” he says. For Delmec, as well as the industry as a whole, this means striking a balance between providing ever-more connectivity via ever-smarter infrastructure.

One key driver identified in the push to provide increased data connectivity is government support. Mohan agrees, saying that “governments and their regulatory bodies actively facilitating the roll-out of national fibre networks will go a long way towards meeting the demand dynamics in the different SE Asian countries.”

As the session was closing, attention turned to future regulation of technological advances. The contributors felt that a pan-European or even global framework would be too ambitious to realise, but key elements of collaboration and cooperation could still be achieved. Some contributors felt that it would be better if regulators adhered to their core purpose and allowed TSPs and market dynamics to create a more natural path of progression. “With service providers increasingly designing technology-based roadmaps for the future, regulators should be freed up to focus more on ensuring high standards across the board,” says Damien.

Setting, achieving and maintaining those high standards is our focus here in Delmec, which is why we’ll continue to survey our communities and host discussions like this with our colleagues. By combining our experience, skills and valuable industry insights, we can extend and improve our service offering, ensuring that we are there to meet and exceed our clients’ expectations. Together, we will facilitate digitisation, develop improved infrastructure, support technological advances and build a more connected future in the SE Asian region.

In the latest installment of our #TalentedTeamwork series, we talk to Krzysztof Ptak, Senior Technical Consultant here at Delmec. He tells us all about his exciting work on European streetworks projects, his passion for hiking, and his plan to become an accomplished accordion-player in his spare time.

Since our very earliest days in the 1970s, we’ve understood the importance of building a talented team: we know that it’s people who power success. For this staff spotlight, we talk to Senior Technical Consultant Krzysztof Ptak, to learn more about his busy and varied role with Delmec.

A graduate of construction and structural engineering, Krzysztof found himself drawn to the telecommunications industry more than eight years ago. For him, it represented a stable but dynamic future, with the opportunity to develop new services and lead innovative projects.

“I love that my work is never boring,” he says from his office in Katowice, Poland. “Our industry is constantly growing, changing and even transforming. I really enjoy finding fresh solutions every day.” The last two tumultuous years have brought plenty of new challenges, but Krzysztof believes that Delmec and our industry as a whole adapted quickly, realising new opportunities for growth in the process. “I believe it’s important to be flexible and prepared to tackle unexpected changes,” he says. “The companies that are able to survive and thrive in ever-evolving environments will fare best.”

Over the last half century of operations, Delmec has proved itself more resilient than most, growing from a small family business into an industry-leading global company. Our services are designed to meet our clients’ current needs while also supporting their future requirements. One key part of this goal is the development of urban streetworks, an ongoing project Krzysztof works with every day. “I try to use my experience in various areas of our business,” he says, pointing out that every new project brings fresh findings and generates additional plans. “For example, following the implementation of our Cellnex streetworks programme in Ireland, we’re now seeking to replicate its success across Europe.” 

In his downtime, Krzysztof likes to get out into the fresh air, enjoying the beautiful Polish landscape. “After spending eight hours at the desk I really need to do some activities like jogging or cycling,” he says. “On weekends I also like to take my family hiking in the Beskidy mountains.”

He’s able to build this passion for the natural world into his work at Delmec, helping to connect communities while reducing the impact on the environment. “I’m working to optimise power usage and introduce renewable sources to decrease carbon footprint,” he says. “On another 5G project we’re planning to redesign our streetwork poles to be more flexible, with minimal visual impact on the surroundings.”

For those who are looking to develop their career in telecommunications, Krzysztof says that Delmec offers the opportunity for real personal and professional growth. “There are real benefits to working with a global company like ours,” he says. “There’s such a diverse range of skills and services, that you could find yourself involved in project management, rigging, design, consultancy and many other departments – everyone can find a spot that suits them in Delmec.”

Not content to play his part in reimagining the future of global telecommunications, Krzysztof is also learning to play the accordion. “It’s definitely a difficult instrument to master,” he laughs. “But if ordinary people could learn it 50 years ago I hope I’ll be able to manage it with the help of online lessons and YouTube videos.” Krzysztof has fond memories of a 2016 team-building week at our HQ in Carlow, Ireland when people travelled from all over the world to meet in person. “We had a soccer tournament, a bowling competition and lots of other activities,” he recalls. “It was great fun, a brilliant opportunity to put faces to names, and hear from my colleagues about the interesting work they’re doing.” Next time, we’ll ask him to pack his accordion in his hand luggage, and organise a Delmec sing-song session!

As a truly global company, Delmec operates in a variety of territories, countries and continents. That means that our team is experienced in adapting for different governance models so that our services are up-to-date and compliant in every sphere of operation. One such varying standard are design codes, which are essential for ensuring that our clients’ structures meet national regulations.

A Brief History of Design Codes

Not every location has an established design code, but if there is one in place, our engineers are obligated to design structures in accordance with the code’s parameters. They’re usually drafted by a governing body and generally represent a best-practice approach to help prevent accident and injury as a result of poor design standards. At Delmec, the three design codes we encounter most regularly are the TIA code, British Standard and Eurocode. For the African market we use the TIA code, for Ireland and the UK the British Standard, and for the rest of Europe, the Eurocode.

It’s generally accepted in the industry that the TIA code is the most easy to use. It was developed by the American Committee over many years and follows a straightforward, logical approach. The British Standard and Eurocode are similar but with more details – and complexity – than the TIA code. The Eurocode in particular is something of a mixed approach, as it includes national annexes through which individual countries specify their own requirements. That means that although Eurocode was developed in the early 2000s to unify building standards for Europe, it is in effect more a set of guidelines than hard-and-fast design rules for constructing towers.

A Sample Comparison of Codes

All three design codes specify varying methods of calculation, as well as approaches to making loading combinations, applying safety factors, etc. Comparing these methods, even briefly, can have revealing results. Of particular interest are the differences in the wind maps and topography categories. In all three codes wind maps are based on alternative parameters, namely:

TIA Code	British Standard	Eurocode
3-sec gust	Hourly mean	10-min average

To demonstrate the differences, we carried out some sample calculations according to Eurocode, with a wind speed of 30m/s. We then adjusted that figure to suit different codes according to wind speed conversions from TIA code:

TIA Code	British Standard	Eurocode
43.1 m/s	28.6 m/s	30m/s

When the calculations were based on a tower in a flat area, the resulting difference between the codes was 15%. If, for example, a tower is placed on the top of a hill 200m high, the differences in the results are more striking – we’re seeing increases of more than 40% in some members.

More Analysis to Come

This is not unexpected, of course, as we’re dealing with different approaches to determining topography parameters, as well as other metrics. A more detailed comparative analysis would be worthwhile, but this paper demonstrates the value of even the quickest review: from the above calculations we can conclude that Eurocode generates the lowest stresses, with the British Standard in the middle, and the TIA code at the top end, causing the highest stress ratios in members.

For some service providers in our industry, these comparisons aren’t necessary, as they only operate within defined geographical borders. But for Delmec, it’s imperative that we not only have a strong understanding of individual codes, but also how they compare across the board. Many of our towerco clients will task us with designing, maintaining, managing and monitoring infrastructure across multiple territories. They know they can trust us to ensure that their towers and equipment are not just fully optimised, but safe too – for their team, their users and the communities in which they operate. At Delmec, Quality Control and Quality Assurance is not just a service we provide – it’s a way of life.

If we go back 10 or 20 years, site audits were carried out by a two-person rigging crew equipped with a sheet of paper, a pencil, a tape measure, a caliper for measurements, and a camera for photographic recording. In recent years, with the increasing demand for fast data capturing and processing, the use of drones has become one of the main elements of our work at Delmec.

Initially, the scope of drone use was quite simple and limited. The operator would fly the drone around the site and take a series of pictures of the tower, recording information about the geometry of the structure, existing equipment, and the possibility of adding additional antennas, checking the Line of Site, and so on. For new sites, flying a drone allows panoramic photographs to be taken, they could be checked for potential signal obstructions, and the future height of the structure can be determined.

The use of drones has become very helpful in the case of sites that, for various reasons, could not be surveyed in the traditional way by site teams – such as being in areas with difficult access (on floodplains or warfare zones) or in situations where climbing the structure would not be safe due to poor condition. During the pandemic, drones made it possible to reach places where humans could not.

An important element is the use of drones as a supplement tool for data capturing and analysis. In the case of a TSS or Due Diligence audit, the visit is performed by one engineer, while the drone is used as a tool to support and speed up the process. One person performs the work at ground level, while the drone is used to take pictures at height. Reducing the crew to just one person with a drone is a vital factor with limited human resources and increasing labour costs. It also significantly minimises the risk of an accident.

In the office environment, drone usage can improve data processing and enhance portfolio management. Engineers can verify legacy data from the old as-built documents, historical surveys, or a client’s database and compare it with the latest information captured during drone surveys. Having very accurate and up-to-date data allows the site owner to make the best business and investment decisions.

The Future of Drone Usage in the Telecom Industry

The development of information technology, including Artificial Intelligence, has made the use of drones expand significantly. Autonomous drones are being tested on an increasing scale where the flight allows required pictures and videos to be taken independently, without human intervention.

Modern applications using AI allow conversion of the image data into point cloud and create the so-called digital twin – a digital equivalent of a physical site. Specialist software can read the tower geometry, equipment type, or ancillaries such as platforms, feeder lines, ladders, etc., and present detailed information in the digital format. These 3D models can then be viewed and edited in an app, on a laptop, or smartphone, or can be seen in hologram form if we use VR.

Works are well in progress to create algorithms that will analyze the condition of a structure. This will mean issues such as loose or missing bolts, the progress of corrosion on members and bolts, deformation of the structure, or deterioration of the site can be identified.

A tremendous step will be connecting drone apps with the static analysis software so that data captured by the drone can be converted into a structural model, where the tower structure and loading will be automatically generated, and the engineer’s work will be limited to the analysis of this data and checking for correctness. In the next phase of this technology, it is likely this element will also become automated.

Delmec has monitored the growing importance of drone technology over the recent years and we have actively cooperated with the relevant companies in this sector. We are confident that drones will become a key element in the future of the telecom industry, and we will continue to use their benefits to support our clients.

This year’s TowerXchange MENA gathered together MNOs, towercos, investors, regulators and suppliers from all over the world to discuss the opportunities and challenges in the region.

Leading industry figures were in attendance, including representatives from TAWAL, Zain, IHS Towers and our own experts from Delmec. Taking place in Dubai, the event offered a valuable chance for colleagues to catch up while sharing knowledge and insight – and a little Middle Eastern sun.

Topics ranged from megaprojects and smart cities to digitalisation and cost optimisation. Now that our team are back at their desks in much-chillier Carlow, they’ve been sharing some key takeaways from the event.

M&A Movement

Much discussion centred on new M&A interest in the region, which has, until now, seen low penetration rates. “Towercos currently own just 14% of towers in MENA, but 40.3% in Sub Saharan Africa and 70% in Asia,” says Damien Kelly, Delmec’s Head of Engineering and Innovation. “Although MENA ranks low, there is a lot of opportunity in the region.”  He predicts that we will see the emergence of new towercos, particularly in countries such as Pakistan, but is cautious about the route to site growth. “While M&A is the quickest option,” he says, “build-to-suit (BTS) is still the most cost effective.”

Orla Kane, Head of Sales and Marketing, reports that key drivers of this new boon in M&A activity in MENA include positive regulation, new market entrants and technology advancements such as 5G and drone use. “That said, there are challenges too,” she says, “and power and energy are chief among them.”

Power & Energy

A core focus in global telecommunications is the environment and climate change. Most major companies in the industry have sustainability targets, and are increasingly relying on renewable energy to meet them. “MNOs and towercos need to deploy sustainable power solutions like solar, wind and green battery technology,” says Francois Pretorius, Delmec’s Regional Business Manager. “But the investment required is significant.”

TowerXchange facilitated a focus session on energy strategies (hosted by Delmec advisory board member Chuck Green) and a roundtable discussion on energy solutions and cost management. An ongoing concern is rising energy requirements from advanced technologies: it was noted that 5G could increase the power draw from site to approximately 30kVa in some cases. “Participants made a number of suggestions such as active sharing to reduce the load or incorporating renewable solutions to reduce the cost, although the key takeaway was that a collaborative approach is needed to tackle these issues,” says Damien Kelly. “This will require MNOs, towercos and equipment manufacturers to work together to reduce the power draw.”

Managing Megaprojects

Future predictions are always popular at TowerXchange events, and MENA 2022 was no different. Damien Kelly moderated a panel on supporting MENA’s leadership in digital infrastructure megaprojects. These could include smart cities, sports arenas, holiday resorts and international airports. “The discussion highlighted interesting points about infracos,” Damien recalls. “The panel spoke about their route to market, the contracts that govern their network management and how starting from scratch can change the dynamics for their business model.”

Attendees did point out that there is much to do in terms of technology rollout to support and sustain megaprojects like this. “The Asia region mirrors the mobile landscape of Africa where there is still some catch-up needed in terms of mobile penetration and 3G / 4G,” says Francois Pretorius. “With demand for coverage growing it’s likely we’ll see significant organic BTS growth in the area in the coming years.”

Áine Kenna, Delmec’s Sales Development Manager, echoes this, recalling that “towercos are responding to high demand in Pakistan with a BTS rollout program of 1,000 new sites per year on average.”

From Telco to Netco

Damien Kelly was a busy man in Dubai, as he also moderated a roundtable on towercos transitioning to netcos, with input from regulators and owners alike. “The session highlighted that to facilitate this transition, MNOs will need to delegate a number of control mechanisms to towercos, something that may be difficult in certain markets,” Damien notes. “In addition to this, MNOs will then be forced to expand their offering to maintain market advantage.”

For Áine Kenna, the discussion showed that MENA is a region that enjoys a strong relationship between MNOs, towercos and regulators. “All three are aligning with the same goals,” she says. “We could learn much from how they support the region in achieving the balance between demand and fulfilment.”

That opportunity to learn is one of the real benefits of international events such as TowerXchange MENA 2022. Our team is highly qualified, experienced and talented, but also dedicated to expanding their knowledge through communication and collaboration with industry partners. That’s how we deliver an unrivalled service to our clients and customers all over the world. Synergy does indeed shape success, whether in rainy Ireland or sunny Dubai.

At Delmec, we believe in the power of partnerships. It’s not just a tagline for us – synergy really has shaped the success of our company for almost half a century, ever since three Delaney brothers first came together to build their business.

Nowadays, we’re proud to work shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the leading lights in the telecommunications infrastructure industry, including engineers and executives from towercos, netcos and MNOs all over the world. Together, we’ve adapted and innovated over the years, and now offer comprehensive services and creative solutions in more than 40 countries.

Three years ago we decided to formalise our policy of professional partnerships with the establishment of an organised board structure.

In 2019 we began the process of building the Delmec board with the help of Dirk Bak, a US-based Harvard graduate, legal executive and entrepreneur who specialises in board-formation.  Dirk’s experience with family-owned SMEs was a great help as he innately understood the drive to maintain a private ownership structure while seeking external support to develop the business strategically.

Together, we established a board structure based on groups of shareholders, management teams and appointed employees. Board members are tasked with different responsibilities, from setting high level company goals to implementing strategy and meeting KPIs. The various interactions and requirements are set out in our charter, which also provides the framework for our quarterly meetings.

We then created a board of advisors, intending to build a panel of industry-leading experts who could provide knowledge, skills and expertise, as well as advice on governance and strategy and key networking opportunities.

Initial appointees included Delmec advisor Dirk Bak, director Liam Delaney and CEO Kealan Delaney. In 2021, they were joined by Charles C (Chuck) Green III, the co-founder and former executive chairman of Helios Towers, with more than two decades of executive experience at the forefront of global telecommunications. Delmec general manager Brian Evans came on board in March 2022, bringing his advanced strategic skills to the group.

As our business scales, we intend to invite three more advisory board members who can offer insight into specific growth areas, including mergers and acquisitions. The benefits of professional guidance and governance – as well as lessons learned by hard-won experience – are not to be underestimated, even to a company as long-established as ours. By learning from the best in the industry, we can continue to offer our clients, customers and communities the exceptional service and renowned expertise they’ve come to expect from Delmec and its people.

We’re kicking off our #TalentedTeamwork series with a spotlight on Brían Evans, Delmec Group General Manager. Find out why Brían believes that synergy shapes success – even in Santa suits!

At Delmec, we understand the power of talented teamwork: we know that it’s our people who make our business a success. In the first of a series of staff spotlights, we catch up with Delmec Group General Manager Brían Evans to learn more about his role in managing the business, people, strategies and partnerships all around the world.

“It’s been an interesting time in the telecoms infrastructure market,” says Brían, looking back over the last two years. “We’ve had the growth of towerco portfolios, new rollouts and the acceleration of streetworks designs for urban in-fill solutions.”

All this activity has resulted in increased pressure on his team, but Brían isn’t worried. “We’ve had to rapidly grow our capabilities and modify our products and service delivery models,” he says, “but it’s been a privilege to watch my colleagues take these new challenges in their stride.”

The rapidly-changing environment meant a lot of learning on-the-job growing our capability and adapting to clients’ evolving needs. “Our customers and markets require us to deliver on an ongoing basis with value chain optimisation and new product/service development and innovation,” Brían explains. “But they also rely on us for technical expertise and digitisation of services in changing circumstances – they know we’ll always do the right thing for them.”

Fulfilling our obligations to our clients is paramount, but that’s not to say we can’t have a little fun along the way, Brían says: “Our team are vibrant, talented and solutions-oriented, but we’re also up for a ‘bit of craic’ dressing as Santa Clause to deliver gifts, complete with the belly and big white beard!”

The multinational Delmec team is ever-expanding, as we seek to better meet our clients’ needs and our industry’s advancements. “We’re always looking for people who want to make a difference, bring new perspectives, and drive success,” Brían reminds us. “We provide an engaging environment and exciting opportunities for candidates who can help us expand our Asset Value Optimisation, develop our Urban Infill Solutions products and services and grow our Network As A Service (NAAS) offering.” For Brían, the future at Delmec is bright. “I’m looking forward with optimism to the challenges and opportunities in the year ahead because I know we’ve got a great team that supports each other,” he says. “It’s a real pleasure to work with people who have an appetite for growth – in terms of career, company and client satisfaction. That’s how synergy shapes success, and that’s what makes Delmec a great place to work.”