5G Approval for Christchurch, Poole and Bournemuth

Three secures approval for its 5G improvement projects in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) regions.

13:07 02 August 2022

Internet service provider Three has recently secured approval for its 5G improvement projects in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) regions. The firm says it could invest up to £17million to ensure that the BCP will realise its full potential for improved broadband coverage. 

 

In the last 12 months, numerous stories have been published on local newspapers highlighting residents' concerns and backlash to plans for 5G masts outside or near their homes in residential areas. In many of the cases, it showed that residents felt aggrieved at a perceived lack of direct communication and placement of the structures during their planning application phase. 

 

Anil Darji, Three UK’s chief network architect, said: “Our mission is to provide better connectivity for customers and communities across the UK. We are investing more than £2 billion in our network to achieve that, and customers in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will have noticed upgrades that make their mobile experience even better.

 

“Our 5G network now reaches 56 per cent of the UK’s population across 3,200 sites in more than 400 locations, and for the third consecutive time we have been recognised as the UK’s fastest 5G network by Ookla, with median download speeds of 292.57 Mbps, a year-on-year improvement.”

 

A BCP Council spokesperson said: “Our planning team looks forward to working with operators to consider more suitable locations in the BCP area to support the roll out of 5G.

 

“All decisions for planning applications of 5G masts are taken following assessment of the merits of the masts against relevant planning policies. We are unaware of the relevance of decisions elsewhere, but so far the locations proposed have generally not been suitable in planning terms due to their impact on the character of the area.

 

“The decision to refuse some masts have also been largely backed up at appeal highlighting that the Council’s decision making on this matter has been robust.”