Welcome

Welcome to your latest issue of Connected. It has been a busy three months, and I’d like to share some of the highlights with you.

At the end of January, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) launched a consultation on potential changes to the 2017 Electronic Communications Code (The Code). As I am sure many of you are aware, this legislation (revised in 2017) has caused some uncertainty in the industry. This has impacted our ability to roll-out new infrastructure and improvements to the network that has been much needed during lockdown and beyond.

Cornerstone has responded to the Consultation with the aim of removing any ambiguity, and providing the industry with the platform required to roll-out the mobile infrastructure we all need to deliver best-in-class digital connectivity. The Speed Up Britain campaign also believes that targeted changes to the Code will accelerate the process of enabling connectivity improvements and has responded appropriately. We will keep you updated on the outcome.

Having said that, we are delighted to be doing deals with both new and existing landowners. The Code sets out the principles for calculating the amounts now payable. Where this has been adopted and embraced by both parties, we have been able to have consensual discussions that have led to a rent that reflects the Code principles of consideration and compensation being paid. In certain instances, there has also been additional incentives made to complete the deals promptly. This may lead to a reduction in the amount of rent we pay for our sites, but we always follow the legislation, and our intention is always to enter consensual discussions to reach a fair and reasonable compromise.

Earlier in March, as part of the Scottish Government 5G Strategy, the Infralink programme (led by infrastructure experts and the Scottish Futures Trust) launched a nationwide toolkit for Scotland to help facilitate faster mobile deployment and connectivity. The programme has engaged with public sector property owners and telecoms providers to take a national approach in streamlining and simplifying the network roll-out process. The toolkit will help to identify suitable sites for telecoms equipment and facilitate the efficient agreement of commercial terms. It’s great to see such initiatives developing across the regions to help improve digital connectivity for communities and businesses.