Belinda Fawcett (Cornerstone’s Director of Property and Estates and General Counsel), Jonathan Harris from Connecting Cumbria and local MP Simon Fell visited Kirkby-in-Furness on the 1st of December with a team of acquisition and planning specialists to discuss how to develop the connectivity infrastructure needed to improve network coverage in the Lake District as part of the UK’s Shared Rural Network (SRN) Project.

The SRN Project will deliver reliable mobile broadband to 95% of the UK, addressing the digital divide by improving 4G coverage in the areas that need it most https://srn.org.uk/about/. We are proud to be delivering infrastructure for the SRN project.

The group met with local stakeholders and community members to share and gather information on how to develop connectivity infrastructure in the National Park, and to hear how a lack of coverage affects local residents, visitors and business owners.

Belinda Fawcett highlighted:
As part of the UK Government’s multi-million-pound Shared Rural Network project, we continue to develop our network of base stations to ensure the infrastructure needed by the mobile operators, to improve connectivity in rural areas, is available. Listening to the communities around these potential developments is vital and allows us to understand their concerns and address these in the initial stages of our proposals.

The Cornerstone team were joined by Simon Fell MP who added:
I was very glad to welcome this group to rural Furness to host a discussion on the importance of rolling out better mobile coverage to some of our most rural communities.

Hosting this forum in Grizebeck was essential – constituents only a stone’s throw away know the challenges that poor connectivity can bring first hand: inability to access services like banking online, a risk to life in winter months as climbers and walkers get stranded, and young people leaving the community, to name just a few.

As the Government’s Rural Connectivity Champion, I was delighted to bring local voices to this discussion, and will take back the discussion to the Secretary of State to unlock roll-out and get communities across the UK, like this one in Furness, better connected.

Can you introduce your partnership with Cornerstone?

Cluttons has partnered with Cornerstone since its inception. During this time, we have enjoyed developing a deep knowledge of the business and its people while applying our market insight and experience to their strategy and challenges.

Cluttons is a strategic property consultancy that offers property knowledge from a diverse group of experts. For over 20 years we have been the leader in property advice for mobile operators and fixed-line providers both in the UK and internationally.

The pace of change in the industry has been colossal. As Cornerstone’s outsourced estate’s function, it has enabled Cluttons to support and join Cornerstone on a journey, rolling out 4G and 5G and optimising its existing estate whilst guiding on and dealing with the complexities of changing legislation. The partnership’s ‘one team’ ethos has always allowed our team to feel like an extension of Cornerstone’s organisation and has further supported the collaborative approach to day-to-day delivery.

Cluttons provide a wide range of services for Cornerstone, including estate strategy, paying rent to their landlords, managing lease events such as renewals, rent reviews, access management, lift and shift, terminations and disposals. This means that in some cases we speak to landlords as frequently as Cornerstone, with many landlords having a longstanding relationship with our team members dating back 10-15 + years.

The partnership ‘one team’ approach is key for us and significantly underpins successful communication and our ability to deliver ultimate value.

What are the main changes you have seen in the UK over the years regarding telecoms infrastructure?

The global pandemic highlighted the importance of fast and reliable mobile and broadband connections. The shift in working patterns has resulted in expectations from people that we should have seamless connectivity, whether at home, on the move, or in the office. The UK Government has committed to being a world leader in 5G with access to the majority of the population by 2030.

Whilst things are improving rapidly, our research found that only 41% of consumers believe their mobile connection is fast and reliable enough to do what they want online. With the change in legislation of the Electronic Communications Code in 2017, rollout and upgrades are still not close to anticipated levels. Therefore, we believe there is still a wider educational piece to be developed and rolled out to all groups of people – consumers, businesses, local authorities, and MPs, to really highlight the meaning and value of connectivity.

With constant change occurring in the property and telecoms industry and the public demand for mobile connectivity, what do you think we can do to help our landlords keep up to date and better understand the importance of infrastructure?

It is fundamental that our landlords and the wider community (benefitting from the mast/electronic communications apparatus on their land) understand the true value of connectivity. Each site is integral to the network, and every landlord plays a part in keeping the UK connected and within immediate access to information. The recent research by Cluttons found that 84% of households have a smartphone, 36% of households use wearable technologies and 35% of households have a streaming media player. In light of this, the importance of widely available, good-quality connectivity has never been so evident. Millions in the UK have been confined to their homes and forced to rely on digital connectivity to access, and maintain, many aspects of their daily existence.

Cornerstone has produced some excellent content on this within the video hub on its website, and I highly recommend taking the time to view it.

What are the challenges we face in rolling out infrastructure?

Education is key. The fact that we are still encountering difficulties with the understanding and awareness within Local Authorities highlights the issues mobile operators face in rolling out and upgrading their networks. The research by Cluttons highlighted that Local Authorities can have a significant role to play in accelerating rollout and that having the funding and a digital strategy in place is critical to avoid being ‘left behind’. This is particularly important when compared to other advanced economies.  Currently, within the G7 we are around 4^th place, which we need to address quickly.

What do you think needs to be done to overcome these challenges?

A good starting place would be for all Local Authorities to appoint digital champions that are supported with budget and resources. This proposed appointment of digital champions will play a key role in developing and implementing a digital strategy and enabling a collaborative approach with mobile operators and fixed-line providers to improve connectivity within communities. We have seen some Local Authorities already taking this approach with real success – such as the collaborative approach the City of London is taking across the various London Boroughs, and the advances West Midlands 5G Authority has made with its digital strategy and implementation. Cornerstone has been doing some excellent work with Local Authorities to educate on the digital benefits for local areas by improving connectivity. The Shared Rural Network is an excellent example of the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) collaborative approach with the government to provide 4G coverage to 95% of the UK, enabling communities to thrive and benefit from digital connectivity. There is a significant investment from the MNOs c.£500m + to connect communities in the most remote rural locations to eliminate not-spots, highlighting the commitment to improving the UK’s digital infrastructure.

What do you think the impact would be on our communities if we don’t keep up with the pace needed?

I think it is simple. If we don’t keep up with the pace, we will be left behind on the world stage, and the much-needed levelling up of the UK will not be successful. Working collaboratively with all stakeholders to identify and remove barriers is fundamental if we are to achieve the government’s aspirations for almost complete 5G coverage by 2030. Fast, reliable connections are essential to ensure the country’s growth and economic resilience. Not only that, but they are crucial for each part of levelling up including education, regional employment and investment and access to health and social care. It will help support all regions of the UK to bounce back from the impacts of things like the global pandemic and succeed outside the EU, and address longstanding gaps in productivity and equality by adding value to all parts of the country.

The City of London has launched a new report today on “The Square Mile: Future City”, produced by the City Corporation’s Recovery Taskforce in partnership with Oliver Wyman. The report sets out a vision for the next five years with detailed actions to enhance the City’s competitiveness and attractiveness.

Read the full press release and report to find out how Cornerstone’s pilot on Queen Victoria Street with the City of London will help demonstrate that mobile infrastructure can support the requirements of the four licensed mobile network operators. 

Cornerstone is the exclusive partner to the City of London Corporation for the deployment of small cell and rooftop infrastructure. If successful, there will be a City-wide deployment that will deliver 5G coverage across the Square Mile by the end of 2022.

Read the full press release here

Cornerstone is excited to hear the news on the collaboration of O2, Vodafone and Three to build and share 222 mobile masts to boost 4G rural coverage as part of the Shared Rural Network Programme. Along with the announcement today from DCMS on the consultation of the Electronic Communications Code, this is a positive step towards meeting connectivity demands and building networks for our future. As the UK’s leading Tower infrastructure company, we welcome the efforts by the industry and the government to make it easier and quicker to deploy and upgrade mobile infrastructure across the UK.

O2, THREE AND VODAFONE AGREE NEW DEAL TO ENHANCE RURAL COVERAGE

Mobile operators to build and share 222 mobile masts to boost 4G rural coverage.

All four nations of the United Kingdom set to benefit from new investment to eliminate Partial Not Spots.

This programme will deliver the first stage of the £1bn Shared Rural Network.

O2, Three and Vodafone will partner to build and share 222 new mobile masts to boost rural coverage across the United Kingdom and deliver the first stage of the Shared Rural Network* (SRN).

This programme of investment will increase coverage in each of the UK nations. 124 new sites will be built in Scotland, 33 in Wales, 11 in Northern Ireland, and 54 in England, with each operator leading on 74 of the new sites.

The construction of the new masts will commence in 2021 and is scheduled to be completed by 2024 in line with the agreement reached with the UK Government and Ofcom.

The three mobile operators will now engage with local stakeholders and other key parties to ensure a timely and efficient roll out that unlocks the benefits of 4G for these rural communities offering customers in very remote areas increased choice and fuller value from their contracts where they live, work or travel.

The exact number and location of masts will be subject to finding suitable sites, obtaining power supply and backhaul and securing the necessary permissions through the planning system.

The new investment as part of the programme, will extend the proportion of UK landmass where all mobile networks provide 4G services from 67% to 84%, and virtually eliminate Partial Not Spots (PNSs) – areas where at least one, but not all four of the UK’s mobile networks provide 4G coverage.

In addition to this privately funded SRN investment, the Government will also spend over £500m to go even further to eliminate areas where there is no 4G coverage from any operator. This will result in every mobile operator reaching 90% of UK landmass, with a combined coverage of 95%.

In Northern Ireland the SRN will see 4G coverage rise to at least 85% of landmass from 75%; in Scotland it will rise to at least 74% from 42%; in England it will rise from 81% to 90%; and in Wales it will rise to at least 80% from 58%.

Matt Warman, Minister for Digital Infrastructure, said:

“I’m delighted to see major progress being made to banish ‘not spots’ of poor or patchy mobile coverage. This new infrastructure will unlock the potential of rural communities in all four nations and offer greater choice of fast and reliable 4G services.

“As part of this new Shared Rural Network the government is also investing half a billion pounds on new masts in areas without any signal at all meaning no one is left behind.”

Mark Evans, CEO of O2, said:

“The Shared Rural Network is a new and more collaborative way of delivering greater investment in infrastructure to improve mobile digital connectivity – a high impact enabler of economic growth.  I am delighted that O2 is working in partnership with other mobile operators to deliver the Shared Rural Network, which will support individuals, businesses and communities across rural Britain.”

Robert Finnegan, CEO of Three UK, said:

“Mobile connectivity is absolutely critical for communities around the UK helping to support local economies and keeping people connected with their friends and family. The Shared Rural Network will have a transformative effect on coverage across the UK and it is great to be working with the rest of the industry to achieve this.”

Nick Jeffery, CEO of Vodafone UK, said:

“We know connectivity is vital and the only way to fill the holes in the UK’s mobile coverage is to work together. Our unique collaboration with O2 and Three will deliver 222 new sites in parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that need better connectivity. Delivering the Shared Rural Network will make a huge difference to communities across the UK.”

The news comes as the government launches a consultation on whether reforms to the Electronic Communications Code are needed to ensure that the deployment, upgrading and sharing of digital infrastructure such as phone masts can happen as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

* https://www.gov.uk/government/news/shared-rural-network

Notes for Editors:

• The Shared Rural Network is a £1bn programme to improve rural mobile coverage and was agreed by the mobile network operators, Government and Ofcom in March 2020. Funded by the mobile industry and Government, investment will be made in new and existing phone masts to increase all operators’ 4G coverage to at least 90% of UK landmass and their aggregate coverage to 95% by 2026. It will provide guaranteed coverage to an additional 280,000 premises and 16,000km of roads and boost ‘in car’ coverage on around 45,000 km of road and better indoor coverage in around 1.2m business premises and homes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live, the way we work, and the way we socialise.

We have all had to adapt to a new style of living. And it’s not been without its challenges.

The importance of mobile connectivity is not a new matter, but the pandemic has reinforced what we already know – that connectivity is an essential element of our lives.

As we continue to social distance, we will become even more dependent on digital services like working from home more often, attending virtual GP appointments, joining online events and much more. A recent research study* showed that 63% of young workers rely more on mobile internet for work now than before COVID-19.   

Now more than before, it is critical that we stay digitally connected to these services.

So, how do we ensure the relevant industries work together with Government to keep up with the increasing public demand for mobile technology?

No doubt, the Government’s digital strategy will be a key focus to continue to support society and businesses during these unprecedented times. But this requires a collaborative effort from mobile operators, the landlord community and the property and legal industries. Delivering digital connectivity across the UK, requires effective roll-out and upgrades of mobile infrastructure and we need to work together to achieve this.  

Coming up to three years since its revision, the Electronic Communications Code legislation (ECC) continues to act as a framework to help the industry agree on terms when it comes to the placing of mobile infrastructure and equipment on sites. However, the legislation still carries some challenges, and this poses a risk to deploying and upgrading the nation’s critical infrastructure.

Are tribunals providing the clarity we need?

Tribunal cases continue to help provide guidance to landowners and operators, but decisions are not crystal clear, and we are still on a journey exploring what the ECC means for all parties. A recent example of a case that caused some uncertainty was the Court of Appeal decision in Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited and Compton Beauchamp Estates Limited [2019] EWCA CIV 1755. The ECC gives code operators certain rights over land – code rights. This includes the right to install and keep installed electronic communications apparatus on under or overland. The issue that arose in Compton was the identity of “the relevant person” for the purposes of conferring code rights – i.e. who grants the agreement.

Cornerstone has now been given permission to appeal Compton to the Supreme Court. The first ECC case that will get to our highest court, we anticipate in 2021.

In January, the Court of Appeal will hear the appeal in the Ashloch case (Cornerstone Telecommunications Limted and Ashloch Limited (1) AP Wireless II (UK) Limited (2).

These are cases setting the framework to provide greater certainty to industry and to enable operators to re-invest in their networks. Fine tuning the ECC At Cornerstone, we have supported the government’s intention behind, and been at the forefront of implementing the Code for the acquisition and maintenance of our infrastructure – which is placed on rooftops, greenfield sites and street work sites. Although court decisions have given guidance on key principles during these past few years, it’s become apparent that the ECC requires further improvements to enhance its intended use.   

To help overcome this, in July this year, Cornerstone supported the launch of Speed Up Britain – a lobbying campaign calling for the Government to improve the ECC to support the swift deployment of mobile infrastructure across the UK.   

Speed Up Britain is chaired by Rt Hon Ed Vaizey, the former Minister for the Digital Economy between 2014 and 2016, and Member of Parliament for Wantage between 2005 and 2019 and backed by the key industry organisations who are responsible for delivering the UK’s mobile infrastructure. The objective of the joint campaign is to work with Government to implement specific changes to the ECC to enhance the way that operators install and upgrade new technologies on mobile sites.   

It goes without saying, digital connectivity has been keeping the UK connected but experiencing a pandemic has shown even more the importance of future-proofing our digital strategy across the UK.   

Carlos Pierce, Head of Legal Projects Strategy & The Code Programme at Cornerstone

To find out more about the ECC, visit our code hub

Follow Cornerstone on LinkedIn

*FTI Consulting, July 2020  

Download the full article PDF here

The following is a statement from Vodafone, Telefónica, EE and Three, demonstrating the telecommunications industry coming together on protecting the nation’s critical mobile infrastructure.

Protecting our critical infrastructure

To our customers,

Our networks provide essential connectivity to our emergency services and the NHS; they enable families to check in on their isolated or vulnerable loved ones; parents to teach their children from home, and millions to be informed and entertained as they stay home.

We are 100% focused on making sure the UK’s mobile and broadband networks are resilient, ensuring you, your families and businesses, can keep connected when you need it most.

Sadly, we have experienced cases of vandals setting fire to mobile masts, disrupting critical infrastructure and spreading false information suggesting a connection between 5G and the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no scientific evidence of any link between 5G and coronavirus. Fact.

Stopping this is critical to keeping your communities connected.

Not only are these claims baseless, they are harmful for the people and businesses that rely on the continuity of our services. They have also led to the abuse of our engineers and, in some cases, prevented essential network maintenance taking place.

Please help us to make this stop. If you witness abuse of our key workers please report it. If you see misinformation, please call it out. Your help will make a real difference.

Thank you for your support as we work together to keep our nation connected.

Read Cornerstone’s latest article in the Estates Gazette where it talks about ICNIRP, exclusion zones and 5G.

As 5G technology roll-out continues through 2020, we will start to experience improved digital services in the UK. To make this possible, upgrades to existing sites and additional base stations will be required. The UK national government considers the rapid deployment of 5G to be critical to economic development.

Cornerstone, the UK’s leading mobile infrastructure services company, acquire, manage and maintain over 20,000 mobile phone base station sites across the UK. 

Our health and safety procedures during deployment and maintenance of these base stations were recognised when Cornerstone was awarded the OHSAS 18001, the International Standard for an effective Occupational Health and Safety Management System. 

The myth about exclusion zones, ICNIRP and 5G

Mobile phone base stations and devices use radio waves, high-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF), to transfer information and make communication possible. Radio waves are used for television and radio transmissions, by the emergency services, public utilities, and many more. They are used for a wide range of personal and commercial equipment such as navigational devices, WiFi equipment, and monitoring devices. EMFs are also produced by household electrical appliances like fridges, vacuum cleaners, or electric shavers. 

The guidelines that apply to the construction and operation of base stations were developed by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), following a comprehensive assessment of all the peer-reviewed scientific literature. The Government has adopted these in the UK, as well as many other countries. 

When deploying electronic communications apparatus, Cornerstone provides exclusion zones to site providers. Exclusion zones are the areas that are prohibited for workers to enter, due to the presence of mobile infrastructure. These exclusion zones ensure no one is subjected to excessive levels of radiation.

There has been some recent debate on how the addition of 5G technology to some sites may result in larger exclusion zones compared to 3G and 4G only sites, and what the impact is on occupational workers and the public. It’s important to recognise that the overall exposure to radio waves with 5G will be designed to remain well within the international health-related guideline levels.

In the UK, the statutory limit regarding exposure to electromagnetic fields is defined in the Control of Electromagnetic Field at Works Regulations 2016 (CEMFAW). It applies to all occupational exposure irrespective of work tasks, including the likes of caretakers, lift contractors, and air conditioning engineers.

Given the expertise required to assess radiofrequency exposure around antennas, site providers do not have liability for the health and safety of emissions. The operator or Cornerstone is the only organisation that has the expertise to manage those emissions on our network. 

Cornerstone will ensure that all sites in our network comply with the ICNIRP guidelines using our highly effective, 5G ready processes. We are committed to addressing 5G concerns and if you would like to find out more about Radio Frequency Compliance, visit:

www.cornerstone.network/radiofrequencycompliance

As the demand for reliable mobile coverage increases within the agricultural industry, building stronger connections with landowners has become even more imperative.

Many farmers of today are relying on mobile connectivity in rural areas, to be able to take advantage of agricultural technology and online services to help increase productivity.

Cornerstone, the leaders in UK mobile infrastructure services, is committed to delivering the best-in-class mobile connectivity to support the UK digital economy. Working with over 12,000 landlords, we help keep our society well-connected by placing our mobile infrastructure on rooftops, greenfield sites in rural locations and street work sites.

We recognise that digital access is vital for the rural community and therefore, to achieve a well-connected society, we believe engaging with landowners and working together will help us deliver the next generation of connectivity.

If you would like to find out more or speak to Cornerstone, please visit:

www.cornerstone.network/about/contact

Alternatively, you can write to:

Landlord Communications, Hive 2, 1530 Arlington Business Park, Theale, Berkshire, RG7 4SA.

The roll-out of 5G has started! To fully experience its benefits, property owners and telecom operators need to work together to deliver it nationally.

Cornerstone, the leaders in UK mobile infrastructure services is committed to providing best in class mobile connectivity to the UK digital economy. Our mobile infrastructure helps keep our society well connected by being placed on rooftops, greenfield sites in rural locations and street work sites such as lamp-posts.

Working collaboratively with our landlords, who are critical in helping us to deliver the infrastructure needed for maintaining and improving mobile services, is important to us.

As the demand for reliable mobile coverage continues, building stronger connections with the landlord community and property industry has become even more imperative.

We all benefit from digital services whether for personal or business use. Recognising how our rural and urban societies have become reliant on mobile connectivity, the Government continues to support the updated Electronic Communications Code legislation to help deliver digital services efficiently and quickly within the UK.

The legislation may still divide opinion within the industry, but at Cornerstone we want to engage with our landlords to help us all understand how we can best use it as a guide, to be able to roll out mobile infrastructure for a better-connected future.

If you would like to find out more or speak to Cornerstone, please visit our contact page. Alternatively, you can write to Landlord Communications, Hive 2, 1530 Arlington Business Park, Theale, Berkshire, RG7 4SA.