Telecom companies need extra 1,000 masts
TELECOM companies may need to build an extra 1,000 masts nationwide within the next three years.
The news will further fuel health fears in local communities, some of whom are already locked in bitter battles with telecom companies over mast installations.
The telecom companies need to build the 1,000 masts to ensure the smooth transition to the third generation (3G) of mobile phones.
Four new licences are to be issued by June 2001 by the regulator, Etain Doyle.
Tenders have yet to be submitted, but former Esat Digifone boss Denis O’Brien has assembled a bid team for one of them.
Mr O’Brien confirmed he is still trying to buy Eircom for €1.10 per share.
In the 3G race, ESB has already thrown its hat in the ring. Others are also expected to mount a challenge for the new mobile licences, including Eircell, whose ownership by Vodafone is becoming increasingly doubtful as shares of the UK giant continue to fall.
Esat Digifone’s Oliver Coughlan, who has responsibility for masts and sites, said Esat has no intention of holding back. He confirmed Esat already has 1,000 sites, 75% of which are shared with ESB, RTE, etc.
In an ideal market, all four licence holders would share sites. However, this is unlikely to happen. In Britain, Orange alone has 7,500 masts, with 2,500 more being erected.
Fears about radiation persists and the industry is bracing itself for a lot of community resistance. Establishing sites in rural Ireland has led to widespread protest in the past.
Last December, it was argued that the erection of mobile phone and TV masts could become one of the political issues to decide the battle for seats in the Cork South Central constituency in the next general election.
Doughcloyne, Spur Hill and Mahers Lane Residents Association in Co Cork urged people to vote only for anti mast candidates when Esat and RTE erected two masts at Spur Hill.
Also last December, Esat Digifone decided not to go ahead with the erection of a mast at Farmers Bridge, near Tralee, Co Kerry, after encountering intense local opposition.
In October last year, Highfield Rugby Club was ordered to remove a transmitter from a floodlight mast by Cork Corporation. Mobile telephone company Meteor had struck a deal with the club for the erection of the transmitter. The device was installed without formal planning approval. In this case also local residents vehemently objected.
