French telecoms operators are joining forces to propose measures aimed at simplifying and accelerating the deployment of mobile infrastructures. The objective is to meet the growing need for connectivity, estimated at + 30% per year.
In June 2023, theArcep noted that 4G mobile coverage in mainland France exceeded 99% for the 4 telecom operators what are Orange, SFR, Free And Bouygues Telecom. An encouraging figure which should not make us forget that the needs in terms of mobile connectivity are constantly increasing : + 30% per year according to French Telecoms Federation (FFTélécoms). Growth supported by the rise of 5G, even if users are not yet in high demand for it. But to have a network, you need infrastructure.
We spontaneously think of relay antennas. Without them, there is no coverage. However, it is not enough to point out a white or poorly covered area to obtain authorization to build one. Especially since these are not the only structures we need. Under the aegis of the FFTélécoms, French operators have formulated proposals whose general idea is torelax legislative and regulatory regulations in force. The objective being “to achieve a better reconciliation between digital territorial planning and the rules
of town planning”.
Here are the measures proposed by operators to simplify deployments linked to the mobile network
There are 10 of them:
- Make mobile deployments more flexible in coastal areas : the report indicates that “out of 1,848 mobile sites that can benefit from the installation of antennas in coastal areas”, almost 800 are blocked due to Coastal Law and its provisions.
- Sustain the removal of the right to withdraw planning decisions authorizing or not opposing theinstallation of relay antennas : the aim is to ratify an experiment aimed at reducing cases of “withdrawal from urban planning decisions relating to mobile telephone infrastructures”, which can currently be done up to 3 months after adoption of the project. This will allow start work earlier.
- Strengthen the sanctions against acts of vandalism and sabotage of digital infrastructures : an article of the Penal Code would be supplemented to broaden its scope of application to “element[s] constitutive[s] of an electronic communications network within the meaning of article L32 of the postal and electronic communications code”.
- Secure leases intended to accommodate mobile electronic communications installations : “this system aims to ensure that the land or high point is actually rented to guarantee digital coverage of the territory. This system is supplemented by a right of “preference” aimed at ensuring the continuity, availability and permanence of electronic communications services.
- Classify digital infrastructures as delivering an essential need and benefiting as such from a priority service maintenance in the event of load shedding on the electrical networks: this means that in the event of temporary power outages made necessary by the situation of the electricity network, infrastructure relating to the mobile network would not be affected.
- Synchronize electrical connections with planning permissions : there is a average time of 8.75 months enter here request for electrical connection communications facilities and effective connection. The goal is to modify an article of the town planning code to reduce this period.
- Facilitate access for telecom operators to high points in the public domain : operators remind that accessing “high points in public areas, such as water towers and roof terraces is essential to […] ensure coherent deployment of mobile telephone infrastructures”. But on these points, “the installation of the devices depends on the agreement of the communities”, which causes delays. An article of the General Code of Local Authorities would be modified to compensate for this.
- Give operators the opportunity to contact the consultation body provided for in article L. 34-9-1 of the CPCE: “telecom operators wish to have the option, in the same way as the competent authority, to issue urban planning authorization, […] to submit a request for consultation to the prefect”.
- Assume the emergency condition fulfilled in the event of summary suspension against a refusal decision concerning mobile radio equipment: the aim here is “to accelerate the stages of mobile deployment when [les opérateurs] are refused their requests for planning permission”.
- Make applicable the principle of “ silence equals acceptance ” for the road permits issued to operators of electronic communications or reduce the response time from 2 months to 1 month: in the first case, this would mean that without a response from the roads after 2 months, the permissions requested by the operators would be tacitly considered accepted.
All these proposals are now under study. It will take some time before they are eventually implemented.