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An update on the cell site protocol
Just over a year ago, the Christchurch City Council developed a
protocol to allow the installation of mobile phone sites on Council
property. The protocol was developed with the intention of providing
mobile phone companies with opportunities to locate their equipment
on Council land. The Council’s intention is to enable the equipment to
be more sensitively located in terms of its impacts on residential areas. The protocol has worked well, and has provided an alternative supply
of suitable land to the mobile phone companies. The protocol has
encouraged and facilitated the establishment of several “co-located” sites,
where both mobile phone operators will establish their equipment at the
one location. Mobile phone coverage is still poor in some parts of Christchurch and
non-existent in others, which means people are unable to make or
receive calls. In other areas there are so many calls that the mobile
networks are congested and overloaded. Under the protocol, the Council and telecommunications companies
are keen to facilitate the establishment of future facilities where they will
have maximum benefit to the community whilst having the least
environmental and visual impact. The latest technology being deployed by the telecommunication
companies in Christchurch is in the form of “microsites”. These sites are
lower powered than the traditional sites and are visually less conspicuous
than the towers which have been erected in various places around the
City.This compact equipment allows the establishment of sites on existing
structures such as lampposts and traffic signals. The smaller sites are
inconspicuous and service a smaller area. The telecommunication
companies must seek property owner consent (from the Christchurch
City Council) for each individual site. Any license approval is subject to
obtaining resource consent under the Resource Management Act (these
applications are considered by an independent Commissioner). Vodafone New Zealand advises that an estimated 60% of
Christchurch’s population own a mobile phone. There is a high level of
demand for mobile communication, especially in highly populated areas,
and as the demand grows so does the need for more mobile phone sites.
The protocol enables new sites to be found to meet the demand for
services. The Christchurch City Council welcomes the availability of
smaller equipment, which should allow mobile phone companies to meet
the needs of their growing numbers of customers in an environmentally
friendly way. |