Euskaltel, S.A. is a Spanish

telecommunications Telecommunication, often used in its plural form or abbreviated as telecom, is the transmission of information over a distance using electronic means, typically through cables, radio waves, or other communication technologies. These means of ...

company based in Derio, Basque Country. It was formed in 1995 in a joint effort by the Basque Government and several Basque saving banks. Its name is literally translated in English as "Basque-Tel". During the Christmas of 2006, Euskaltel became rebranded as euskaltel and were at the same time adopting a new logo which depicts a stylized orange-coloured butterfly. Euskatel operates a

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network within the region, laid in collaboration with the Basque gas company. The company uses the small nearby town of Urnietatel as a testing ground.

Logo history

1995–2006

2006–2018

File:Euskaltel logo.svg, Euskaltel's second and previous logo used from 10 December 2006 to 25 March 2018.

2018–present

File:Euskaltel 2018 logo.svg, Euskaltel's third and current logo since 26 March 2018.

Mobile virtual network operator

Although Euskaltel has its own cable network, it doesn't have a licence to use mobile phone aerials. The company has agreements with Orange España, to use their aerials for their mobile phone service. Previously it had an agreement with

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to provide their service.

Corporate sponsorship

Euskaltel was the joint lead sponsor of the Basque Country's major professional

cycling team A cycling team is a group of cycle sport, cyclists who join a team or are acquired and train together to compete in bicycle racing, bicycle races whether amateur or professional – and the supporting personnel. Cycling teams are most important i ...

, , along with the regional government. The team, once one of eighteen elite teams making up the

UCI ProTour The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle racing, road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the Union Cycliste Internationale, UCI (International Cycling Union). Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, i ...

, was a regular participant in the annual

Tour de France The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage cycle sport, bicycle race held primarily in France. It is the oldest and most prestigious of the three Grand Tour (cycling), Grand Tours, which include the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a ...

and

Vuelta a España The Vuelta a España (; ) is an annual stage race, multi-stage bicycle racing, bicycle race primarily held in Spain, while also occasionally making passes through nearby countries. Inspired by the success of the Tour de France and the Giro d'Ital ...

, and has helped to launch the careers of many top Basque professional cyclists such as Iban Mayo and Haimar Zubeldia. In February 2020, it was announced that Euskaltel would sponsor the team for four years, starting from the following April, with the team rebranding as .

References

External links

Bloomberg profile
{{Spanish television stations Basque companies Cable television companies of Spain Privately held companies of Spain Biscay Spanish companies established in 1995