Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development – University of Reading
14 December 2004
Researchers at the University of Reading and Arup have begun work on the review of the code of best practice on mobile network development. The project, funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and the Welsh Assembly, will be complete by March 2005. The code was produced jointly by representatives of central and local government and the mobile phone industry in 2002. When it was published it was hoped that standardised practice would promote greater consistency of approach and aid the transparency of the process for all concerned. Signatories of the Code were Hutchison 3G UK, O2 UK, O2 Airwave, Orange, T-Mobile UK Ltd and Vodafone. The research project will examine a range of issues and, in particular, how the code has operated and whether, where there is an expectation in the Code that the public should be engaged, the operators are engaging the public as expected. This includes consultation with local communities and their representatives. Professor Phil Allmendinger, of The University of Reading's Department of Real Estate and Planning, said: "The rollout of 3G equipment by the mobile phone operators is likely to involve a substantial number of new sites as well as the modification of existing sites. Sites for masts are particularly sensitive and it is in everyone's interest that developments are dealt with as sensitively and openly as possible. This Code seeks to provide a consistent and open approach. We will be evaluating its operation and, if necessary, suggesting ways in which it could be improved." The research team consists of Professor Phil Allmendinger from the Department of Real Estate and Planning at the University of Reading, Adrian Gurney, Jillian Hastings and Paul Jarvis from Arup. End For further information please contact: Professor Phil Allmendinger Department of Real Estate and Planning School of Business University of Reading Tel: 0118 378 8175 Mob: 07904 121982 Email: p.allmendinger@reading.ac.uk Note: copies of the Code can be found at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_control/documents/contentservertemplate/odpm_index.hcst?n=2348&l=2