Telecommunication towers are often seen as eyesores due to their purely functional, metal lattice designs, which prioritize practicality over aesthetics. However, Red Sea Global (RSG) has revolutionized this perception by integrating thoughtful design, artistic flair, and camouflage techniques to turn these structures into visually appealing landmarks. Saudi Projects spoke with Dr. Ahmed Alsohaily, Group Head of Technology at Red Sea Global, to explore how these towers have been reimagined.
Saudi Projects: What materials and construction methods were used in the telecom towers to ensure sustainability and minimize environmental impact?
Dr. Ahmed Alsohaily: Our destinations boast a wide array of landscapes, from coral beaches and sand dunes to majestic mountains and dormant volcanoes. This diversity meant there was no one-size-fits-all solution for our telecom towers. Each tower was meticulously designed, positioned, and installed to harmonize with its environment. For instance, in the Southern Dunes, rooftop antennas were placed on hills and covered with 3D-printed camouflage to maintain the scenic views for our guests. At RSI Airport and Turtle Bay Village, minimalistic towers were used to blend seamlessly with nearby buildings. On Ummahat Island, where the St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton resorts are located, special fabrics were chosen to complement the resort designs and sandy beaches.
“Each tower was meticulously crafted to blend seamlessly with its surroundings.”
Saudi Projects: How do the telecom towers incorporate renewable energy sources to reduce their carbon footprint?
Dr. Ahmed Alsohaily: The towers, along with the entire Red Sea destination, are powered by the world’s largest zero-carbon grid, which includes 760,000 solar panels and a 1 GWH battery storage system.
“The towers are designed for energy efficiency.”
Saudi Projects: Could you elaborate on the energy efficiency of the towers and their end-of-life considerations?
Dr. Ahmed Alsohaily: Our towers are designed for energy efficiency. We carefully select frequencies, radios, and antennas to minimize the need for air conditioning in many tower cabins and ensure that power usage is just enough to meet coverage targets. Additionally, the materials used in the towers—metals, fiberglass, and fabrics—are all recyclable.
Saudi Projects: Can you provide details on the towers’ resilience to extreme weather and natural disasters, given the challenges posed by climate change?
Dr. Ahmed Alsohaily: All materials used in the towers are chosen for their high tolerance to the region’s weather conditions.
Saudi Projects: How do the telecom towers support sustainable communication practices, such as efficient network sharing or eco-friendly telecommunication devices?
Dr. Ahmed Alsohaily: Our towers support both passive and active network sharing among service providers. We use the lowest possible power levels and prefer to work with local contractors and materials whenever feasible. We take great pride in involving local community members in our projects. The effort we put into challenges, such as placing a 4-ton foundation on a mountain, has been extremely rewarding. It’s gratifying to see others adopting our elegant approach to tower design.
“The most rewarding part was seeing others follow our lead in designing towers with elegance.”
