Cellnex Telecom turns the Parcmotor Castellolí Barcelona Circuit into one of Europe’s first connected circuits

• Circuit Parcmotor is a pioneering and innovative testing space for the development of ITS associated to 5G technological solutions, sustainable mobility and the autonomous vehicle.
• The new connected circuit offers a complete solution for testing connected vehicles in a controlled, safe and sustainable environment.
• The connectivity implemented means that what happens on the track and inside the car can be checked, viewed and/or monitored from anywhere in the world.
• At the Parcmotor the company is also testing and developing new technological solutions and services linked to connectivity for non-urban or semi-rural environments.
• All deployed infrastructures are energy-sufficient using wind and/or solar power.

Castellolí / Barcelona, 29 March 2019.- Mobility Lab, a project developed by Cellnex Telecom, was unveiled this morning at the Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí Barcelona. The operator has equipped the venue with the necessary infrastructure and technology to allow users and customers to develop new products and services in the field of smart mobility and vehicle connectivity. The company’s experience in the telecommunications sector and Castellolí’s infrastructure offer a complete solution for testing connected and autonomous vehicles in a controlled, safe and sustainable environment.

Ester Capella, Regional Minister for Justice and current Regional Minister for Economy and Finance of the Catalan government (Generalitat), took part in the event along with Albert Castellanos, Secretary-General of the Vice-President’s Office, Xavier Gatius, Secretary-General for Digital Policy and Public Administration, Joaquim Ferrer, Secretary for Business and Competitiveness, and Joan Serra, mayor of Castellolí; Xavier Bartrolí, president of Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí; Tobias Martínez, the CEO of Cellnex, and Òscar Pallarols, Global Director of Innovation and Strategy of Cellnex Telecom.

They all highlighted the importance of the Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí, which will mark a turning point in connected circuits in Spain and Europe and specifically emphasised the activities that will take place in the area.

Xavier Bartrolí, president of the Circuit, said: “Since we took over management of the Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí – BCN, our thinking has revolved around three major axes: innovation, industry and sport. One of our main aims was to make the circuit a technological benchmark and and provide it with an integrated innovation ecosystem in the field of the connected and autonomous vehicle. This goal has been achieved. We have 100 hectares dedicated to all motor specialties, in a setting that is ideal for holding competition trials, vehicle tests, team training, upskilling and recreational activities for all audiences. We want to continue being an avant-garde and pioneering reference space; nourished by the rich opportunities of our area while also adding value to it.”

Òscar Pallarols, Cellnex Global Director of Innovation and Strategy, stated that “the implementation of this Mobility Lab allows us to develop and test the connectivity technologies, in conjunction with the actors of the automotive sector, that will boost the autonomous and connected vehicle, which will be key to future mobility both in urban and interurban environments. In this connection, the roll-out and densification of telecommunications infrastructures, in the road axes and urban networks, will be decisive in facilitating the interaction and communication of the vehicle with other vehicles and with the remaining elements of the road infrastructure.  Thanks to Octagon, at Circuit Parcmotor we will have an innovative ecosystem allowing all the actors involved to work together on the solutions that will make connected mobility a reality”.

Cellnex Telecom’s contribution to the circuit, following the agreement signed in 2017, reinforces the company’s technological positioning in the automotive and mobility industry. This association makes Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí a benchmark environment and an innovative testing space for the development of ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) associated to 5G technological solutions, particularly in the field of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-pedestrians (V2P) communications, which can subsequently be implemented in vehicles (future mobility), in cities (smart cities) and on roads and motorways (smart roads).

Infrastructure and technology of the circuit

Cellnex Telecom has provided the circuit with broadband connectivity and has deployed a wireless network, offering coverage for the entire site, which allows connectivity between vehicles. The entire track has high-definition cameras to monitor vehicles around the circuit and units fitted on the vehicles themselves to transmit telemetry, video and voice data. In addition, it has an IoT (Internet of Things) network which allows data to be managed and analysed.

This new project aims to provide an opportunity for all the various actors involved with the automotive industry and new technologies to be able to test and develop new technological solutions and future services linked to connectivity at the Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí (IoT, 5G and connected/autonomous vehicle), designed specially for non-urban or semi-rural environments.

The new wireless network installed, providing coverage throughout the site, allows images and information along the racetrack – which is over 4,140 metres long – to be transmitted to the control centre for viewing and analysis, making it possible to improve vehicle performance and safety while they are driven. The new Internet of Things (IoT) network provides constant information on the state of the track and environmental parameters thanks to the “zero emission” communication nodes installed all along the circuit.

The connectivity and technology implemented in the circuit mean that what happens on the track and inside the car can be checked, viewed and/or monitored from anywhere in the world. This means, for example, that a team of engineers would not need to physically travel to the circuit to perform tests, since they can access the information from their offices anywhere in the world.

Furthermore, Cellnex Telecom is developing mobile connectivity solutions in urban environments – which are included in the V2X-Arch project – and bring to the fore the importance of communications between vehicles and street fixtures (traffic lights) or communications between emergency vehicles and all other vehicles on a road.

Energy efficiency

All the infrastructures Cellnex Telecom has deployed at Parcmotor Castellolí operate under the premise of an efficient and environmentally responsible energy management, since they are self-powered by wind and/or solar energy.

This is an essential factor for the company itself and for the future of the smart and electric vehicle, since deploying these infrastructures throughout the area will require energy to transmit and deliver communications anywhere in the world. The equipment deployed on the roads should consume as little as possible, since the majority of these are not electrified.

About the Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí-Barcelona

Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí – Barcelona is a complex covering circa 100 hectares and is an innovative ecosystem created around the world of motor racing, located 35 minutes from Barcelona. The area has various different circuits, services and facilities to promote trials, tests and training, and communication actions for all types of motor sports.

Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí’s facilities are aimed at all types of customers, whether public or private companies, professionals or private individuals, and offer various activities. The site offers services ranging from vehicle presentations to brand training sessions, company events and all kinds of leisure activities.

Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí has hosted events, presentations and activities of well-known automotive brands such as Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche, McLaren, Pirelli, Michelin, Kia, Seat, Renault, Volvo and Firestone.

www parcmotor.com

About Cellnex Telecom

Cellnex Telecom is Europe’s leading operator of wireless telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructures with a total portfolio of 29,000 sites including forecast roll-outs up to 2027. Cellnex operates in Spain, Italy, Netherlands, France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Cellnex’s business is structured in four major areas: telecommunication infrastructures services; audiovisual broadcasting networks; security and emergency service networks and solutions for smart urban infrastructure and services management (Smart cities and the Internet of Things (IoT)).

The company is listed on the continuous market of the Spanish stock exchange and is part of the selective IBEX 35 and EuroStoxx 600 indices. It is also part of the FTSE4GOOD and CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) and “Standard Ethics” sustainability indexes.

Cellnex’s reference shareholders include ConnecT with a 29.9% stake in the share capital, as well as Threadneedle Asset Management, CriteriaCaixa and Blackrock, which hold minority interests.

www.cellnextelecom.com