Monte Caccia: building for the future

From decommissioning to long-term vision: a next-generation tower designed to last

Publication date: 22-05-2025 13:09

May 22, 2025 – 120 meters tall, 273 tons of steel, 1,000 cubic meters for the foundation, and just 120 working days to complete. These are the numbers behind the new tower completed by Rai Way in early 2025 on Monte Caccia— a key milestone in the company’s vertical infrastructure renewal program.

Monte Caccia is located in the municipality of Spinazzola, in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani. Active for nearly seventy years, the transmission site sits in the heart of the Apulian Murgia and provides essential radio and TV broadcast services across a vast portion of southern Italy. Two of the existing towers—one 105 meters and the other 60 meters high—have reliably served the area for decades. But recent technical assessments made it clear: their structural lifecycle had come to an end. The response was not to expand, but to replace. This project wasn’t about adding capacity—it was about ensuring continuity of service, maintaining safety, and future-proofing the site for new technologies.

The new tower was designed to accommodate all current radio links, the FM antenna, and—crucially—a future RAI DAB digital radio system. The project represents a substantial investment and is part of Rai Way’s 2024–2027 Industrial Plan, which includes the rationalization and modernization of existing vertical infrastructure throughout Italy.

120 meters in 120 days

Construction began on November 5, 2024, with excavation of the foundations, and wrapped up on March 27, 2025, with the final element installed at the top of the structure. A 120-meter tower built in just 120 working days—an extraordinary achievement for a project of this scale and complexity, particularly given the technical and environmental constraints. Each steel module was assembled with millimeter-level precision. The technical inspection was completed on April 10, with no issues reported.

This exceptional result was made possible by a meticulous planning phase. Preparatory work began in 2019, allowing Rai Way to fully understand the site context, anticipate every potential risk, and build a solid engineering and logistical framework to ensure smooth execution. With 273 tons of steel and a 1,000-cubic-meter concrete base, the new tower is one of the tallest structures Rai Way has ever built—engineered for maximum structural integrity, long-term durability, and operational reliability.

A shared project, designed to endure

From late 2025 through spring 2026, the new tower will gradually take over from the two older structures. The FM service will be the first to migrate, followed by radio links, and finally the RAI DAB antenna, to be installed at a height of 114 meters. Once the migration is complete, the two historic towers will be dismantled, and the entire site will be streamlined—reducing physical footprint and maintenance needs while ensuring balanced structural loads.

This was a team effort—driven by collaboration across Rai Way’s internal divisions. The project was led by the Infrastructure Division under the coordination of Paolo Troisi. The Territory and Regional teams provided continuous on-site support, while Engineering played a crucial role during the planning phase, ensuring optimal transmission performance. Procurement oversaw the tender process, ensuring the highest standards from all contractors involved.

“Staying on schedule, avoiding issues, and meeting both environmental and heritage protection requirements—this project is a textbook example of what happens when methodical planning and strategic vision drive a well-orchestrated technical and operational effort.” says Achille Albano, Director of Infrastructure & Real Estate at Rai Way. “A major success for Rai Way, whose core business lies in infrastructure development.”

Monte Caccia remains a cornerstone of Rai Way’s broadcast network. But now, it’s equipped with a structure that doesn’t just preserve the past—it’s built to serve the future.