Founded at the ignition of Hungary’s private company era, Szigma-X Ltd has grown into a trusted operator in mobile infrastructure – with safety at the centre of everything they do.
When Botond Németh joined Szigma-X, it was more than just a career move – he was following in his father’s footsteps.Szigma-X is a family-owned business, so it was a natural path for me to join and grow into a key role”, says Botond, who today serves as the CEO of the company founded by his father Árpád.
Since the company’s founding in January 1989, Szigma-X has evolved into a reliable player in the field of mobile infrastructure featuring 15 employees, including structural engineers and industrial alpinists. Their main clients are Hungarian mobile operators, to whom they provide support in several areas – from tower design to structural analysis and reporting, steel manufacturing, foundation construction and the installation, maintenance, and inspection of the Turvatikas Safety Ladder.
Persistence paid off
The story between Szigma-X and Turvatikas Safety Ladder begun already at the turn of the 21st century, when a mobile operator in Hungary was interested in using Turvatikas. “In the late ’90s, we were reselling another safety product, but it was difficult to get approval from local authorities at the time. When Nokia (now One) entered the Hungarian market, they specifically requested Turvatikas for their towers — that’s how we got introduced to the system”, Botond explains.
Although there were initial uncertainties around the success with Turvatikas due to industry restrictions, being insistent eventually paid off. “At first, we were unsure if we could succeed with it, as no one had yet managed to get it approved locally. But after some persistence, we succeeded — and since then, we've proudly been the official reseller of Turvatikas in Hungary”, Botond elaborates.
Long-lasting partnership
The cooperation between Szigma-X and Turvatikas Safety Ladder has lasted for over two decades and has fostered a strong understanding beyond national borders. “The Turvatikas system is reliable, adaptable, and trusted by the mobile operators we work with. It fits well with the requirements of tower safety and gives us confidence in daily operation”, Botond lists. He says one of the most memorable projects has been the early large-scale rollout - with then Nokia – when Szigma-X installed the Turvatikas system across multiple towers; “It was a big milestone for both our company and the Hungarian telecom industry”, Botond recalls.
With safety as the top priority, Szigma-X continues to be involved in various modernization projects across Hungary, mainly working with rooftop and tower installations of both new builds and existing sites. Szigma-X’s team works at heights on a daily basis, making the Turvatikas Safety Ladder system and protective equipment a crucial part of their everyday operations.
To conclude, Botond shares his own tip for safe working: “Never compromise on safety! Always double-check your equipment before starting any task at height — no deadline or cost saving is worth risking your health.”