Council considers allowing 5G kit on lampposts

Councillors in Devon are due to debate whether 5G equipment should be installed on lampposts owned by the authority for a fee.

The proposals, outlined on a cabinet meeting agenda, are for a change in policy to allow the kit on "furniture" owned by Devon County Council, including lampposts.

Council officers have said the council could earn £300-£350 a year for each lamppost.

The issue was first raised in 2019, when it was subject to health concerns, while a subsequent council review said although further research was needed, current evidence supported "no adverse health affects due to low-level radiofrequency fields used by 5G".

The cabinet report also outlined the economic benefits of better 5G availability.

While the proposals are focused on smaller equipment for now, the report noted that even more cash could be earned if larger equipment were to be installed on buildings or bridges it owns, with estimated ranges between £1,750-£7,000 per year.

While Devon County Council is not technically the planning authority, regulations do allow it to rubber stamp permitted development on structures it owns.

A draft policy for such a move will be debated by the cabinet on Wednesday 15 July.

"Enabling Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to use council-owned assets, such as street lighting columns and bridges and even potentially rural sites such as county farms [owned by Devon County Council], could encourage commercial investment in rolling out 5G," the report stated.

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