- New rules to connect countryside to 4G quicker and accelerate 5G roll out
- Law changes will reduce need for new phone masts and boost signal on roads
- Comes with protections to preserve rural scenery and minimise impact of new infrastructure
Reforms to planning laws will mean fewer phone masts will be needed overall to level up the country with improved 4G and 5G mobile coverage as telecoms firms will be able to upgrade existing infrastructure over building new masts.
Mobile network operators will get more freedom to make new and existing phone masts up to five metres taller and two metres wider than current rules permit. This will boost the range of masts, create room for the extra equipment needed for faster networks and make it easier for operators to share infrastructure.
The government will put tough new legal duties on operators to minimise the visual impact of network equipment, particularly in protected areas such as national parks, conservation areas, world heritage sites and areas of outstanding natural beauty.
Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez…
