BANDWIDTH: BERLIN'S FERNSEHTURM

Everything you never even knew you wanted to know about Berlin

Berlin's Fernsehturm (TV Tower), whose real name is technically FMT 32 or Fernmeldeturm 32 (for Telecommunications Tower 32), is an active radio and TV broadcasting tower with the biggest signal reach in Germany. In fact, when standing anywhere near the tower, you find yourself in (or right below) the thickest network of broadcasting frequencies anywhere in the city and beyond. The sphere is just a “fun” addition to the structure.

Coincidentally, however, that sphere (which weighs, gulp!, 4,800 tonnes) measures… 32 metres in diameter. And not only is the Fernsehturm as such located 32 metres above mean sea level but also the visible round base of the tower measures - you guessed it - 32 metres across.

Something that few people realise when looking up to the top Berlin’s Fernsehturm: the sphere on its top does not rest on the massive concrete shaft - it is attached to the steel frame with 26-centimetre thick steel bands.

East Berlin construction workers with the almost completed Fernsehturm (view east) on August 13, 1969 - exactly 8 years to the day since the Berlin Wall was erected). Photo by Peter Koard via Bundesarchiv Bild 183-H0813-0023-001.

So next time you find yourself shooting up the shaft in a speeding lift taking you to the viewing platform inside the sphere, spare a thought for East German engineers, architects and construction workers who produced this masterpiece. Their frequency might be dead but thanks to them new bandwidth has a classy home.