Julia Lopez MP, Minister of State for Data and Digital Infrastructure, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, is calling upon telecom operators to consider alternatives to using telegraph poles.

In her letter Lopez highlights the government’s concerns with the inappropriate and unnecessary use of telegraph poles and other infrastructure that is being duplicated by operators, asking companies to do “everything possible” to share existing telegraph poles before deciding to build new ones.

Network operators are already required to share infrastructure where possible, and new measures were brought in to make it easier for them to upgrade and share use of existing underground ducts and telegraph poles.

“I am writing to you about the use of telegraph poles for fixed-line broadband deployment, which is generating public concern in some parts of the country,” she wrote. “A number of MPs have brought to my attention the frustrations of communities they represent over the duplication of overhead fibre networks. They have advised that their constituents feel they have no control over how infrastructure is deployed in their local area, and this can negatively affect the overall perception of full fibre deployment.
While these concerns are most prominent in a small number of areas in England, I have seen complaints from residents across the country.”

While telegraph poles are essential to bringing faster and cheaper connectivity, the minister has advised new infrastructure should only be built above ground when sharing existing infrastructure or installing lines underground is not viable and in engegement with the local communities.

Companies failing to comply with the regulations can lead Ofcom to investigate and take enforcement action on the operator.

{photo: Amy Elting for Unsplash}