Farmers warn 5G rollout at risk as mast rents slashed by up to 90%

"Britain's ambition to deliver nationwide 5G coverage risks being derailed as farmers and rural landowners revolt over deep cuts to the rents paid for hosting mobile masts. Rents that once ran into thousands of pounds are being slashed by as much as 90% under laws designed to accelerate the rollout of digital infrastructure. In Cornwall, one farmer said his rent was reduced from £8,500 to £750, while another in Dorset saw his annual fee collapse from £5,000 to £1,600."

"A survey of more than 500 mast site owners found that one in three is now considering walking away from agreements altogether, citing plummeting returns and rising frustrations with mobile operators. The National Farmers' Union (NFU) and Country Land and Business Association (CLA) have warned that members are increasingly inclined to turn their land over to other uses - from holiday lets to solar farms - which offer more lucrative and less complicated revenue streams."

""It's concerning that a significant number of site providers are considering walking away from hosting telecommunications infrastructure," said Rachel Hallos, NFU vice-president. "Members do not feel listened to by operators or government when it comes to having a say over what is happening on their land." Any large-scale withdrawal of landowners from mast contracts would imperil the UK's digital upgrade, leaving rural areas in particular at risk of falling further behind Europe in terms of 5G coverage."

Deep cuts to rents for hosting mobile masts, sometimes reaching 90%, are prompting farmers and rural landowners to consider terminating agreements. Examples include Cornwall reducing a rent from £8,500 to £750 and Dorset from £5,000 to £1,600. A survey of over 500 mast site owners found one in three is considering walking away, citing plummeting returns and frustrations with operators. The NFU and CLA warn members may repurpose land to holiday lets or solar farms for higher, simpler income. The Electronic Communications Code of 2017 enabled operators to renegotiate contracts and cut rents, straining relations and risking slower deployment and poorer rural 5G coverage.

Read at Business Matters