Communication towers (also commonly known as communication towers, signal towers, or base station towers) are large steel structures specifically designed and built for erecting wireless communication antennas. Their main function is to provide support for signal transmitting antennas in mobile communication, elevating them to a sufficient height to extend wireless signal coverage, and providing a stable and safe installation platform. Communication towers are primarily constructed using high-strength steel (such as Q235 and Q345) welded or bolted together to form the tower structure. Their height varies from tens to hundreds of meters depending on coverage requirements, and the design must meet stringent structural strength, stability, and lightning protection grounding requirements. Towers typically include maintenance ladders, rest platforms, safety railings, lightning rods, and aviation obstruction lights.
In China, the vast majority of communication towers are constructed and maintained by China Tower Corporation Limited, and then leased to the three major telecom operators (China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom) for shared use, achieving resource sharing. The sharing rate of newly built towers has increased significantly from 14.3% to 85%. China Tower is actively promoting the transformation of "communication towers" into "digital towers," turning towers into integrated IoT sensor systems at mid-to-high locations.
