The combined experience of Arqiva, National Grid Wireless (NGW) and their predecessor organisations dates back more than 80 years in broadcast engineering and wireless communications infrastructure.  This heritage is unique and makes Arqiva an acknowledged leader in the design, deployment, ownership and operation of advanced communications and broadcast networks.

Broadcast origins can be found in the transmission functions of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), which pioneered many of the major developments in radio and television networks.  From the mid-1960s a shared television network was created for all 625-line UHF transmissions which continues to this day and forms the basis of the digital switchover.

In 1990 the IBA was disbanded and the engineering division entered the private sector as National Transcommunications Ltd (NTL).  Likewise in 1997, the home broadcast transmission division of the BBC was acquired by Castle Transmission International (CTI).  Both organisations have since continued to build on their tradition of innovation, having launched the world's first Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) and Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) networks. In the mid-1990s NTL acquired DTels, the former Home Office communications agency dating back to 1939, with several hundred staff transferring to the company. This formed the basis of Arqiva's Public Safety business. At around this time NTL also diversified into satellite uplinking and other media services.

In the private sector, both organisations opened up their masts and towers to other users and became the leading independent source of sites and services for mobile communications operators.  1996 saw NTL acquired by the American-owned cable company CableTel, which later rebranded as NTL and created NTL Broadcast as a stand-alone division. In October 1999, the company won the contract to provide outsourced radio communications for London's Metropolitan Police Service, with 77 MPS staff transferring.

In 2004 CTI, by then known as Crown Castle UK, was acquired by National Grid Transco and the name changed to National Grid Wireless in October 2005.  Subsequently the rights were acquired to two DTT multiplex licences, resulting in becoming one of the founder shareholders in Freeview.  Meanwhile in January 2005 NTL Broadcast was acquired by investors led by Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group to become Arqiva, who in April 2007 acquired National Grid Wireless and its former Gridcom businesses.  Earlier Arqiva acquisitions included Inmedia Communications Ltd and BT's satellite broadcast services business.

Following a competition review Arqiva and NGW were allowed to combine in September 2008, uniting the two halves of the UK's broadcast transmission network and creating a world class infrastructure and service provider.