The UK government has announced plans to help end the scourge of mobile signal 'black spots' across the country.
The reforms will mean that rural areas are expected to see a significant improvement in terms of mobile signal, with the nationwide rollout of 5G also speeding up considerably.
The reforms also include an attempt to increase signaling on UK roads, removing a major pain point for users across the country and possibly spelling the ultimate end to getting lost on winding country roads.
Say goodbye to moving blackheads
The plans, unveiled by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), will also mean fewer cell towers will be needed to provide this signal boost. The new planning laws will allow mobile network operators to build new and existing telephone masts up to five meters higher and two meters wider than current regulations allow.
The DCMS says this will increase the range of masts, create space for additional equipment needed for faster networks, and make it easier for operators to share infrastructure. Building-based masts will also be able to be placed closer to roads to increase road coverage in the event of a breakdown or simply being lost.
However, this decision will not result in unsightly giant poles spoiling the view of the field, as the government has also announced strict new legal obligations for operators to minimize the visual impact of network equipment, especially in protected areas. such as national parks, conservation areas, world heritage sites and areas of outstanding natural beauty.
The moves are still in the planning stage right now, but DCMS says it hopes to put them into action as soon as possible.
"We've all felt the frustration of having 'no bar blues' when struggling to get a phone signal, so we're changing the law to remove mobile 'dots' and speed up the rollout of next-generation 5G," the minister said. of Digital Infrastructure, Julia López.
"Phone users across the country will benefit, whether they are in a city, town or on the highway, and the stricter rules on the visual impact of new infrastructure will ensure our beloved countryside is protected."
The news is part of the government's Shared Rural Network initiative, which hopes to spend more than £4bn to help "improve" the country's mobile infrastructure. Other targets in the plan include nationwide 2030G coverage by 5 and XNUMXG coverage of the majority of the UK population by the same date.
The UK also plans to unplug its 2G and 3G networks by 2033 as part of plans to promote the development and deployment of 5G services and diversify the telecommunications supply chain.