Their proposals will not be likely to please the anti-5G collectives who, throughout the country, are mobilizing against the installation of relay antennas. To accelerate the deployment of their networks, telecom operators are requesting a relaxation of the legislative and regulatory provisions in force, according to them, “ slowdowns or even blockages in the deployment of mobile sites. »
As part of the public consultation which followed the Simplification Meetings, organized by Bercy in mid-December, the French Telecoms Federation (FFT), representing the main players in the sector including Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, came forward of an argument in this direction.
For operators, the thing is understood: “ without changes to the regulations in force, the acceleration of mobile coverage will remain hampered and ineffective in certain territories. » In focus: the Littoral law of 1986 which, as its name indicates, preserves the coastline by limiting development along the seaside.
Blocking of 1,848 sites in coastal areas
According to the FFT count, the installation of antennas on 1,848 sites, located in coastal areas, has been blocked, proves to be contrary to the provisions of the law or is encountering installation difficulties (see the map below). -below). To resolve the situation, the federation proposes to deviate from the principle of construction in continuity with town planning. This exemption would make it possible to install antennas in non-urbanized areas of coastal municipalities, “when necessary to ensure digital coverage of the territory. »
Securing leases
The operators are also asking for a system of the Elan law (development of housing, development and digital technology) to be perpetuated which provided, on an experimental basis, and until the end of 2022, that the mayor no longer has a period of three months to withdraw an urban planning decision ratifying the installation of a pylon in its municipality. This measure has de facto enabled a reduction in cases of withdrawal, rejoices the FFT.
The deployment of mobile networks being the subject of significant investments on the part of operators, the latter are also calling for securing the leases of the sites which host their mobile infrastructures. This is to counter competition from new players who speculate on the telecom tower market (TowerCo).
As explained The world, these TowerCos of a new kind – Valocime and Telecom Invest are mentioned – take advantage of a lease expiring to offer the owner of the land to buy it back, promising to double the rent. Once in place, they offer the operator who manages the pylon to resume operations or threaten them with expulsion.
Avoid the reappearance of white areas
This stratagem can lead, according to the FFT, “ the slowdown of deployments in the territory, or even the reappearance of white zones even though they had been resolved. » She wants the current holder of the lease contract to have a right of preference upon expiry and that the mayor or president of the public intermunicipal cooperation establishment (EPCI) where the location is located be informed if a person acquires a lease.
Easy access to water towers
Operators also want to have easier access to high points in the public domain, such as water towers or roof terraces. “However, these high points generally fall within the non-road public domain, over which telecom operators do not have a right of occupation, so that the installation of the devices is subject to the agreement of the communities “. A modification of the Post and Electronic Communications Code (CPCE) would grant them this right of occupation.
The installation of an antenna is the subject of a free-for-all between the operator, the community and local residents. The FFT requests that the operator have the possibility, in the same way as the competent authority which issues the planning authorization – the mayor or the president of the EPCI – to submit a request for consultation to the prefect .
Other provisions concern network resilience. Operators are calling for stronger sanctions against acts of vandalism and sabotage of their infrastructure, particularly relay antennas. They also want these infrastructures to be considered “ sensitive goods » and benefit from priority service maintenance in the event of load shedding operations on the electricity networks.