Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will provide guidance to local authorities on the maximum number of telegraph poles that can be erected in local areas per number of households.

As I stated to the House on 15 January 2024, duties and obligations relating to telecommunications installations are included in the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003 (“the 2003 Regulations”).

In addition, there is a Code of Practice (The Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice 2016) in place relating to the siting of cabinet and pole installations. This provides guidance on ways operators can ensure these installations are placed appropriately, and that local authorities and communities are engaged with regarding proposed installations.

In April 2023, I wrote to all Local Planning Authorities, asking that they notify Ofcom, and provide evidence of any instances, where they believe operators have failed to comply with their duties under 2003 Regulations. I also wrote to the Chief Executive of Ofcom, the independent regulator for telecommunications operators.

My Department does not, however, provide guidance on the number of telegraph poles that can be erected in local areas. This, like any other form of network build, will depend on a number of market factors, including the number of households to be served, availability of existing infrastructure and operators’ commercial plans.

As I previously stated, the Government believes that communities benefit enormously from the deployment of high quality digital infrastructure, with all the economic and social benefits it brings. We want to make sure that deployment happens efficiently, but at the same time, in ways that make sure the impact on communities and the environment is taken into account and broad support is maintained for the rollout of this critical infrastructure.

That is why my Department has taken steps to optimise the use of existing infrastructure. The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 introduced new measures to make it easier for operators to upgrade and share the use of existing underground ducts and telegraph poles, reducing the need for future installations.

We are nonetheless aware of ongoing concerns about the installation of telegraph poles. We are in discussions with Ofcom regarding this, and are considering steps we can take to address these concerns and to promote collaborative engagement between operators and communities.