Euskaltel, S.A. is a Spanish

telecommunications Telecommunication is the transmission of information by various types of technologies over wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic systems. It has its origin in the desire of humans for communication over a distance greater than that fe ...

company based in

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, Basque Country. It was formed in 1995 in a joint effort by the

Basque Government The Basque Government ( eu, Eusko Jaurlaritza, es, Gobierno Vasco) is the governing body of the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain. The head of the Basque government is known as the ''Lehendakari''. The Lehendakari is appointed by the Basque P ...

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

fibre optics An optical fiber, or optical fibre in Commonwealth English, is a flexible, transparent fiber made by drawing glass (silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly thicker than that of a human hair. Optical fibers are used most often as a means t ...

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 Orange Espagne S.A.U., more commonly known by its trade name of Orange España, is a mobile network operator in Spain. It was previously known as Amena, a brand of Retevisión, until 2005, when it was bought by France Télécom (now Orange S.A. ...

, to use their aerials for their mobile phone service. Previously it had an agreement with

Vodafone Vodafone Group Public limited company, plc () is a British Multinational corporation, multinational Telephone company, telecommunications company. Its registered office and Headquarters, global headquarters are in Newbury, Berkshire, England. It ...

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 races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI (International Cycling Union). Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, e ...

, was a regular participant in the annual

Tour de France The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consists ...

and

Vuelta a España The Vuelta a España (; en, Tour of Spain) is an annual multi-stage 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'Italia, the r ...

, and has helped to launch the careers of many top Basque professional cyclists such as

Iban Mayo Iban Mayo Diez (born 19 August 1977 in Igorre, Basque Country, Spain) is a former professional road bicycle racer. Biography Renowned as a climber, Mayo turned pro with in 2000, and became one of the Basque Country's prospects for glory. He ...

and

Haimar Zubeldia Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (born 1 April 1977) is a Spanish former Road bicycle racing, road racing cyclist from the Basque Country, who competed professionally between 1998 and 2017 for the , , and teams. During his career, Zubeldia recorded five ...

. 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