The Ten Commitments: Background and Rationale
The initiative has three aims: improved transparency of the process of building mobile networks; providing more information to the public; and increasing the role of the public in the siting of base stations. The commitments are being put into practice in consultation with key local government and community stakeholders to ensure they are fully workable.
The operators believe this initiative is a better way to address public concerns than restrictive regulation, as the planning system is not equipped to assess health concerns. Indeed, tighter planning rules could aggravate concerns by raising false expectations of a public veto on base station siting.
More regulation would certainly make it harder for the industry to respond to the demand for service being provided to over 81 million mobile connections in the UK, while placing an added administrative burden on local planning authorities. It would also undermine the competitive edge the UK has gained in Europe through the swift uptake and development of mobile technology.
Mobile services are hugely popular, and bring immense benefits to the people that use them, as well as making a significant contribution to the well-being of the UK economy. To work effectively, they need sufficient infrastructure. This initiative will ensure the right balance is struck between safeguarding development of and access to mobile services in the UK and the need for greater environmental responsibility.
Back to 'Ten Commitments to Best Siting Practice’.
For more information about the Ten Commitments, contact MOA direct on +44 (0)20 7331 2015.
Ten Commitments
Central to the operators’ approach to network development is consultation with local communities, planning officers and other stakeholders on any proposed new developments. Pre-application consultation is included in the operators’ ‘Ten Commitments to Best Siting Practice’, which has existed since 2001 to help address concerns relating to the development of base stations, and which is now contained in planning guidance throughout the UK.
Sharing Sites
Mobile phone users in the UK increasingly want better coverage and greater capacity so they can access more services on their phones. While this means that new base stations will still be needed, network operators seek to share sites wherever possible. Site sharing helps reduce energy consumption and the overall environmental footprint of networks, as well as improving the quality of coverage.