Arqiva may be a little-known, private company but it provides a range of critical services across the UK. The business owns and operates 1100 TV masts (through which the main channels the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 broadcast to the country), radio masts for FM and digital broadcasting, and mobile phone masts rented out to all the major networks. As part of a broader communications remit, Arqiva also owns broadcast spectrum, which allows certain independent TV channels to operate. It holds satellite capacity and it facilitates the use of smart meters by energy companies.
If the company were quoted, it would be in the FTSE 100 Index. Instead, it is owned by a consortium of infrastructure investors, including the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board, which owns 48% of the shares, and Australian group Macquarie with 25%.
