Telecoms Sector and Landowners come together to support infrastructure deployment
The BSG welcomes a joint statement that has been published today between the telecoms sector and the landowners community.
The joint statement has been endorsed by the Government, MobileUK, the CLA, RICS and CTIL and states:
“The reformed Electronic Communications Code (ECC) came into force in December 2017 with the aim of boosting coverage and connectivity across the UK, through a package of measures which Government expects to deliver significant cost reductions to the sector, while ensuring that landowners receive a fair payment for allowing their land to be used.
Since the new legislation was introduced, there have been problems with negotiations progressing. While some initial uncertainty is to be expected, Government, regulators, the telecoms sector, independent infrastructure providers and the landowner community, recognise the importance of all parties working collaboratively together, both during this transition period and moving forwards.
We are therefore coming together to reaffirm the commitments made to each other in Ofcom’s Code of Practice, and to reiterate our support for the Government’s ambition to be a leading global economy underpinned by world class full fibre network and 5G infrastructure. It is essential that parties engage professionally in open and constructive communications. The future needs of customers and the economy are too important for it to be otherwise.”
As our recent report Forging our 5G Future made clear resolving the short term impasse around bringing new sites and land into the telecoms sector is a key concern. But this must be done in partnership with landowners given the importance of ongoing and positive relationships. Hopefully this statement marks the start of a more productive phase of engagement as we continue to deploy better quality networks with higher levels of coverage.