Opinion Research
Ipsos MORI has, for many years, been undertaking research for the MOA into the views of the general public on mobile telecommunications planning and health and safety issues. They also undertake research each year with local authority planning officers, to ascertain their views about how the operators approach planning their networks, and how well they consult local stakeholders on proposals for new base
stations and masts.
The latest planners research (2011) can be found here
In summarising the results, Julien Misell, Director at Ipsos MORI said: “Most planners say the issue of base stations is important, although the proportion holding this view continues to decline. Just over three fifths say mobile operators make themselves available to meet and discuss their plans prior to submitting planning applications. Two thirds now feel sufficient effort has been made to share masts, a significant increase over the last three years. Similarly, over three in five now agree that operators provide evidence of consideration of mast sharing.”
MOA General Public Research 2011
Tracking the attitudes of the British general public in 2011 to mobile phones, masts, planning and health issues.
MOA_General_Public_Research_Autumn_2011.pptx
Previous research can be found below:
Staying Connected - mobile phones, masts and health (PDF 687KB)
Tracking the attitudes of the British general public and local authority planners 1999-2008
Ipsos MORI report
'Good Reception - continuing to address the needs of planners'
Ipsos MORI report 2005
Addressing the needs of planners
4 Million Mobile Broadband Connections
Mobile phones cannot work without a network of base stations (masts). There are approximately 52,500 base stations in the UK. An Ipsos MORI survey for MOA (May 2010) showed that almost three quarters of people understood that masts are essential if they are to access the services they require. Mobile telecommunications are vital for the UK’s economic competitiveness and in promoting social inclusion. There are now over 81 million mobile connections in the UK. Over 4.8 million customers now access mobile broadband services via a laptop and dongle, and 28 per cent of UK adults use their mobile phones for internet access.
No Established Health Effects
Mobile phones operate by using radio waves, similar to those that have been widely used for decades, for example in radio, TV and radar signals. A large number of studies over the last two decades have found no clear evidence of adverse health effects from the use of mobile phones or from phone masts.