The UK mobile sector faces a familiar pressure point. Networks must carry more data, support 5G, and serve digital public services. Yet the physical sites behind that connectivity often arrive late in planning discussions.
Cornerstone says this gap now threatens network progress. Belinda Fawcett, its Director of Regulatory and Public Affairs, argues that mobile sites need earlier protection.
“One of the biggest problems we have as an industry is the lack of awareness of the very critical role that this infrastructure plays,” she tells Mobile Europe.
The issue becomes clear during property redevelopment. A rooftop site may disappear when a building changes. Operators then need a new location, landlord agreement, planning approval, power, and fibre.
“We lose sites and, sometimes, finding those alternative sites can actually take up to two, three, even up to seven years to find a replacement site,” Fawcett says.
That delay creates a hidden cost for operators. Money that could expand coverage instead replaces lost capacity. Fawcett sums it up sharply: “We spend millions just standing still.”
This matters because mobile networks depend on careful site placement. One removed site can affect thousands of users. It can also impact several operators sharing the same location.
“A development that removes an existing mobile site can have consequences beyond the building itself. If several operators are using the location, finding an alternative can become a much bigger network-planning exercise,” she says.
However, planning reform needs careful handling. Taller masts and faster approvals can improve coverage. They can also raise local concerns about visual impact. The challenge lies in balancing community input with national connectivity needs.
Fawcett points to permitted development rights as one practical area. These rules allow certain changes without full planning applications.
“Permitted development rights are one area where extending the height of masts from perhaps 15 to 20 metres would make a huge difference,” she says.
In simple terms, a slightly taller mast can cover more area. It can also add capacity without finding a new site. That reduces disruption and speeds deployment.
Meanwhile, operators call for faster government action. VodafoneThree has said it has £11 billion ready for network investment. Yet it needs policy support to deploy that capital faster.
“They won’t hit it unless they do something radical to help us do it,” Fawcett notes.
The debate also reaches beyond mobile broadband. AI, IoT, and cloud services will increase network dependence. Businesses, emergency services, and consumers will expect constant connectivity.
“We are going to have to rely on mobile infrastructure even more heavily,” Fawcett says.
“We need to see the government coming out and saying, like, this is critical national infrastructure. It has to be protected.”
Her message is direct. Mobile infrastructure cannot remain an afterthought. It must sit alongside transport, energy, and housing in planning policy.
“We can’t be polarised anymore. We all need to take responsibility for delivering this critical national infrastructure,” she concludes.
