• RAMSTEIN AB, Germany
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), in collaboration with TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH (TKS) and Vantage Towers AG (Vantage Towers), one of Europe’s leading telecommunications tower operators, put into operation a new temporary cell tower while four additional permanent cell towers are constructed here at the air base.
This project improves the quality of life for warfighters and their families, as it lays the foundation for a significant improvement in mobile communications and other telecommunications services for the installation, and the more than 50,000 U.S. service members and family members who are stationed there.
The towers will initially be used by Vodafone but will also be available to other mobile network operators.
“Cell phones are an organic part of what we do to stay connected with people that we care about, stay dialed in to what’s happening in the world and support mission-related communications,” said Col. Everett (Bud) Lacroix, Exchange Europe/Southwest Asia/Africa Region commander.
“This has been a very long time coming, and we are deeply grateful to everybody who made this happen,” he added.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS UPGRADES
The towers are a first in a series of Exchange-led telecommunications upgrades planned across European military installations, aiming to bring stateside-quality service to overseas communities.
In 2024, the Exchange added 80 cellular towers at seven CONUS installations, with 25 more scheduled for 2025.
OPENING CEREMONY
Among those participating in the commissioning ceremony for the new temporary cell tower were Steffen Stueckmann, TKS head of Sales Region North; Dennis Rueckert, TKS director of Operations; Carla McDowell, Exchange General Manager (GM); and Tim McNichol, Europe, Telecom Business manager.
Also, Patrick Abram, TKS chief executive officer (CEO); Denise Hunter, Exchange vice president (VP) of Services Operations; Krystal McLaurin, Exchange Services business manager; Yuka Hamaguchi, Vantage Towers Key Account manager; Alexander Kroell, TKS director, Sales and Marketing; John Jennings, Exchange Services program specialist; and Racquel Hinso, Exchange Chief Regional business officer.
Source: AAFES
Edited by Larry Lapka
