The government has outlined plans to relax planning restrictions to allow the construction of taller mobile phone masts across Britain, aiming to eliminate rural signal blind spots. Digital Secretary Nicky Morgan said that existing rules prohibiting ground-based masts exceeding 25 metres on public land would be reviewed, enabling networks to build larger infrastructure.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Morgan said the changes would let firms strengthen existing masts without prior approval, facilitate upgrades for 5G, and encourage mast-sharing between operators. She stressed the need to balance preserving the countryside with improving connectivity, describing rural areas as “sacrosanct” while acknowledging the demand for reliable mobile services.
The announcement coincides with the launch of a £30m competition to fund up to ten rural trials of next-generation 5G applications. The Rural Connected Communities competition is intended to stimulate investment and help rural communities benefit from the technology. Earlier projects in Orkney have used 5G to monitor salmon fisheries and improve wind farm efficiency, while in Shropshire trials have involved crop-spraying and soil analysis using drones and tractors.
Morgan said the government was “investing millions so the whole country can grasp the opportunities and economic benefits of next-generation 5G technology.” She added that modern Britain expects connectivity everywhere, and that planning laws must support the infrastructure needed.
However, the shadow culture secretary, Tom Watson, criticised the funding as insufficient, arguing that the UK’s digital infrastructure is “lagging embarrassingly behind.” He called for bolder and faster action to deliver full fibre and 5G networks as the basis for future economic growth.
