News for Year 2012
MOA responds to Mobile Infrastructure Project consultation
The Mobile Operators Association has responded to the Government's recent consultation on the proposed Mobile Infrastructure Project, aimed at improving mobile coverage in the UK.
You can read our response here: MOA_MIP_STAKEHOLDER_RESPONSE-FINAL.pdf
Mobile Operators Association welcomes 'Scotland's Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan
Mobile Operators Association welcomes ‘Scotland's Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan’
The Mobile Operators Association (MOA) welcomed the publication today, 31st January, of Scotland’s Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan.
The MOA particularly welcomes the document’s recognition of the vital importance of digital telecommunications, including mobile telecommunications, in terms of sustainable economic development, in the delivery of public services, and in improving social inclusion.
John Cooke, Executive Director of the Mobile Operators Association said: “The social and economic importance of good digital communications cannot be underestimated. I am particularly pleased to see that the Scottish Government has set out the intent to deliver world-class digital access and a future-proofed approach that will enable Scotland to keep pace with and surpass international benchmarks, rather than settling for a second-best solution that will not be fit for purpose in a few years’ time.”
He added, “Delivering this plan will require co-ordinated action by a range of stakeholders. We are pleased that Scottish Government has said that it will work with industry and with local authorities and with COSLA, as the detail of the plan is developed. Planning policy, both at national level and how it is applied at local planning authority level, must support the expansion of electronic communications networks, and be aligned with the Infrastructure Action Plan.”
Notes for Editors
- The Mobile Operators Association (MOA) represents the four UK mobile network operators – Everything Everywhere (Orange & T-Mobile), Telefonica UK, Three UK, and Vodafone – on radio frequency (RF) health and safety, and related town planning issues associated with the use of mobile phone technology. It provides information on these issues to policy-makers, including elected representatives and officials at UK, national, and local level, journalists, residents’ groups, and the wider public.
- The Scottish Government publication, Scotland’s Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan, is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/2012/01/1487
- For more information please contact Christine Jude 0207 331 2029, 07736 110787 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Consult Early; Consult Often: Research with Planners
Consult Early; Consult Often: Research with Planners Shows Support for Pre-Application Consultation on Mobile Phone Masts
5 January 2012
Pre-application consultation is a key factor in securing local community buy-in to development. That’s one of the findings of research carried out among local authority planning offices by Ipsos MORI for the Mobile Operators Association (MOA).
Providing site specific pre-application consultations and better suggestions for mast siting were cited by 31% of planners as the most important improvements to encourage further local authority engagement in telecoms planning issues. The research also revealed that 62% of planners felt that mobile phone operators made themselves available to meet and discuss their plans prior to submitting planning applications. As one planner said: “We can iron out issues at an early stage before the application arrives.”
John Cooke, Executive Director of the MOA said: “It’s encouraging that so many planning officers agree with us on the importance of pre-application consultation. The operators are committed to it, and it is one of the key parts of the operators’ code of best practice. An effective mobile telecommunications infrastructure is vital to the economy, and operators want to develop their networks in a way that takes account of local needs and sensitivities. The message seems to be that to get the right balance, we need to consult early, and consult often. ”
In its response to the draft National Planning Policy Framework, the MOA has stated its strong support for the policy’s encouragement of pre-application engagement. However the association has warned that while many authorities are happy to hold pre-applications with developers, a minority is unwilling to do so. Operators are also happy if authorities make reasonable charges for pre-application discussion, because they recognize the constraints on resources in planning departments. But the MOA believes that a few demand fees that can’t possibly be based on reasonable cost recovery or represent value for money, but seem to be being used as an extra revenue stream or local ‘stealth tax’.
The research also showed that two thirds of planners feel operators have made sufficient effort to share masts. The proportion of planners saying that has increased significantly in the last three years. That is probably explained by the fact that operators have developed new ways to share infrastructure, to cut costs, and to help reduce energy consumption and the overall environmental footprint of networks. In fact, around two thirds of all mobile phone base stations in use in the UK are located on existing buildings and structures, including buildings, TV and radio transmission towers and existing mobile phone masts.
John Cooke added: “Operators’ networks are planned nationally but built locally. An effective planning system is therefore vital in meeting the needs of the public for greater coverage and capacity. In turn, that’s vital for the delivery of sustainable economic development, and to social inclusion, and crucial to the success of the Government’s plans for digital connectivity.”
Notes to Editors
- The Mobile Operators Association (MOA) represents the four UK mobile network operators – Everything Everywhere (Orange & T-Mobile), Telefonica UK, Three UK, and Vodafone – on radio frequency (RF) health and safety, and related town planning issues associated with the use of mobile phone technology. It provides information on these issues to policy-makers, including elected representatives and officials at UK, national, and local level, journalists, residents’ groups, and the wider public.
- Technical note for Editors: 100 telephone interviews conducted by Ipsos MORI among senior local authority planners involved in mobile phone base station planning between 18th May and 3rd June 2011.
- The planners research can be accessed on the MOA website: http://www.mobilemastinfo.com/2011/ipsos-mori-planning-officers-research-published.html 4.
- For more information please contact Christine Jude 0207 331 2029, 07736 110787 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Mobile phones are now a necessity: just don’t bother us with conflicting advice
“Mobile phones are now a necessity: just don’t bother us with conflicting advice”
4 January 2012
Two fifths of people say there is so much conflicting information about alleged health issues related to mobile phones and masts that they’d rather not hear about it.
That was one of the findings of a recent survey of almost 2,000 adults in Britain, carried out by Ipsos MORI for the Mobile Operators Association (MOA). However, the study also showed that people are generally not worried about these alleged health effects, with levels of concern at half the level of a decade ago. Around 90% of adults now use a mobile, and 83% agree that they are a ‘necessity’ for modern life.
John Cooke, Executive Director of the Mobile Operators Association said: “it’s understandable that some people think that the information on mobiles and health is conflicting, because any suggestion of health risks in any walk of life tends to make headlines, whereas a study saying that there’s no problem doesn’t. In fact, the scientific consensus and the official advice - both here in the UK and internationally - is reassuring”.
He added: “The World Health Organisation says that a large number of studies have been performed over the last two decades, and that to date, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use.”
When asked about children using mobile phones, just under a half agreed that advantages of a child having a mobile phone outweighed the disadvantages, compared to a fifth of people who disagreed. The proportion of those agreeing rose among younger people, and among those with children in their household.
John Cooke added: “The Health Protection Agency (HPA) here in the UK says that parents who are worried about mobiles and children’s health should discourage excessive use, and encourage children to text rather than to make a voice call. That’s advice that is going with the grain of how kids are increasingly using their mobiles anyway”. The HPA advice also confirms that no adverse health effects have been established from the use of mobiles.
Notes to Editors
- The Mobile Operators Association (MOA) represents the four UK mobile network operators – Everything Everywhere (Orange & T-Mobile), Telefonica UK, Three UK, and Vodafone – on radio frequency (RF) health and safety, and related town planning issues associated with the use of mobile phone technology. It provides information on these issues to policy-makers, including elected representatives and officials at UK, national, and local level, journalists, residents’ groups, and the wider public.
- Technical note for editors: 1965 face to face interviews conducted by Ipsos MORI among the GB general public aged over 15 on 2nd – 8th September 2011.
- The general public research can be accessed on the MOA website: http://www.mobilemastinfo.com/opinion-research/opinion-research.html
- For more information please contact Christine Jude 0207 331 2029, 07736 110787 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it