Page 97 - SAMENA Trends - August 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

UK Consults on Planning Rule Changes to Bolster Rural Mobile Coverage

The UK government has launched a what measures the industry could connectivity and good mobile coverage.
consultation on proposals to simplify offer to mitigate the impact of any new There is nothing more frustrating than
planning rules with a view to improving infrastructure, including assurances of moving into your new home to find signal
rural mobile coverage. In a press release a greater use of existing sites and the is poor. That’s why we are proposing to
regarding the matter, the Department for removal of redundant masts. Commenting, simplify planning rules for installing the
Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) Esther McVey, Minister of State for Housing latest mobile technology – helping to
noted that the consultation on potential and Planning, said: ‘we’re committed to extend coverage and banish more of those
changes to permitted development rights delivering the homes people across the signal blackspots, particularly for those
for mobile infrastructure in England country need, and that includes delivering living in rural areas.’
includes proposals on: changing the the right infrastructure such as broadband
permitted height of new masts to deliver
better mobile coverage, promote mast
sharing and minimize the need to build
more infrastructure; allowing existing
ground-based masts to be strengthened
without prior approval to enable sites to
be upgraded for 5G and for mast sharing;
deploying radio equipment cabinets on
protected and unprotected land without
prior approval, excluding sites of special
scientific interest; and allowing building-
based masts nearer to roads to support
5G and increase mobile coverage. Further,
the consultation also seeks views on

UK To Pump £30M into Rural 5G

The UK government pledged a £30 UK. The government statement pointed to consultation on proposals which aim to
million investment to boost access to 5G 5G deployments already in place in certain simplify rules to improve rural mobile
technology in rural parts of the country, a rural locations, including the Orkney Islands coverage. The government has declared it
move it hopes will spark a “tech revolution”. which is remotely monitoring fisheries wants to reform planning laws for mobile
In a statement, Digital Secretary Nicky and improving efficiency of wind farms. infrastructure, as a way to ensure the entire
Morgan said up to 10 locations in rural “In modern Britain people expect to be country can benefit from next-generation
UK will be chosen to run innovative connected wherever they are. And so we’re technology. The consultation will look at a
trials of 5G applications, with the aim of committed to securing widespread mobile number of proposals including: changing
ensuring the “whole country can grasp the coverage and must make sure we have the the permitted height of new mobile
opportunities and economic benefits of right planning laws to give the UK the best masts, promotion of mast sharing and the
next-generation 5G technology”. The latest infrastructure to stay ahead,” said Morgan. deployment of radio equipment cabinets
funding is part of a £200 million project In addition to the funding announcement, on land without prior approval.
that aims to develop 5G testbeds in the the government also launched a

Russian Deputy Minister Targets 24.5GHz-29.5GHz 5G Auction by Year-End

Russia’s Deputy Minister of Commu- reserved for military/security/intelligence – specifically for building [wholesale,
nications Oleg Ivanov expects to hold the use. Furthermore, Ivanov claims that shared 5G] infrastructure for the band
first commercial 5G frequency auctions in all the ‘big four’ operators – MTS, below 6GHz, not for doing business [with
the range of 24.5GHz-29.5GHz by the end MegaFon, Beeline and Tele2 (backed by end-users].’ Meanwhile, Tele2 Russia has
of 2019, he told Vedomosti. In addition, Rostelecom) – are ‘ready’ to jointly build announced that its ongoing 5G pilot in
the Deputy Minister expects that 5G in the 5G infrastructure using sub-6GHz bands. central Moscow recorded a top speed of
4.4GHz-4.9GHz band will be developed in He was quoted as saying: ‘the operators 2.1Gbps using the 28GHz band, Cnews
the near-term, in the absence of available have reached a consensus on approaches reported, with minimum latency of 9ms.
3.5GHz 5G spectrum which is currently to creating a single infrastructure operator
97 AUGUST 2019