5G confusion hits telco's network plans

Wednesday 04 December 2019

A telecoms provider is withdrawing its plans to install phone antennae on a supermarket, claiming the government's 5G policy is at odds with local planning laws.

The statement from Airtel-Vodafone Jersey came after it received complaints from 30 islanders determined to scupper their plans to install the antennas on a Co-Op in St. Peter on the false assumption that they were for a 5G network.

The application, in fact, was for four antennas and a microwave dish for 3G and 4G.

Pictured: The application intended to improve the 3G and 4G network in the area.

Rohit Khullar, Head of Technical at the company, said the saga demonstrated “the disconnect between the Government of Jersey’s 5G strategy and barriers to implementation."

Criticism of the application centred around unproven claims that ‘emissions’ from the masts might taint the food in the supermarket or interfere with bees trying to find their way home. Others had concerns about the proximity of the masts to a nearby nursery – Rainbow Tots.

The telecoms provider’s covering letter for the application explained that the intention was to allow St. Peter residents to "...benefit and experience our services supported by the latest technology", while also meeting "CICRA’s long time ambition of creating a viable alternative to fixed broadband, using the new frequencies and technology”.

Due to the low level of the radiowaves being emitted from the masts proposed, the Environmental Health Department said it had “no objections” to the development.

Now, Airtel-Vodafone has issued a statement announcing its intention to withdraw the application – their second one in the Beaumont area – due to “conflicting feedback [they] have received on the site design from the planning and building control authorities."

Pictured: It was intended that the antennas and dish would be installed on top of the Beaumont Co-Op (Google Maps).

Airtel-Vodafone also emphasises that, due to the difficulty of getting plans of this nature through the Planning process, the Government’s ambitions for the island’s mobile network is “far apart… from the reality of local planning laws”.

Rohit Khullar, Head of Technical at Airtel-Vodafone stated: “The chain of events around this planning application highlights how far apart the Government of Jersey’s telecoms policy is from the reality of local planning laws, and brings into question whether it’s possible to deliver 5G in line with the government’s ambition as laid out in its Telecoms Strategy Action Plan. 

“5G technology will potentially mean a proliferation of masts, which can be negated through infrastructure sharing, something which we are very much in favour of. We have long advocated network sharing as the most sustainable model for the introduction of 5G services and have shown proven examples from around the world from our tried, tested and trusted partners Vodafone, Airtel and Nokia as to how this has been implemented. 

“This example proves the disconnect between the Government of Jersey’s 5G strategy and barriers to implementation. We urge CICRA to address these imbalances before any 5G spectrum licence tender is released next year.”