As mobile networks get more and more dense, the challenges of finding and securing cell sites will rise, and many governments are under pressure to relax planning regulations to ease the process.
Joining the debate is network optimization firm Actix, which is calling on the UK government to adopt a centralized planning system to address the issues surrounding small cell roll-outs. It says about 7,000 new sites may require planning permission to enable cellcos to reach their LTE roll-out targets. Even before carriers move to true metrocell layers of capacity, they will need smaller cells to address areas of high data usage, and to make the best use of high frequency, limited-range spectrum in 2.6GHz.
Actix believes the right approach is a centralized planning database for operators, infrastructure owners and contractors, combined with further deregulation to smooth the process.
According to figures released by the UK separtment for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the four UK cellcos estimate that only 30% to 40% of the existing sites that need to be upgraded to support near term LTE roll-out will be covered under existing development rights. Without deregulation, 6,000 to 7,000 sites would still require planning permission in the short term.
Actix argues that companies in the optimization area, like itself, are easing the burden of planning the new networks, with geolocation tools to map coverage and capacity and identify the best locations to maximize the performance of the operator’s network and spectrum. Such tools can scale up to thousands of cells, combined with self-organizing capabilities, and can reduce the planning cycle from months to weeks ‘ but cannot, of course, cut through government red tape. The tools would be significantly boosted by access to a centralized planning database to speed up the identification of locations.
Director of global marketing Neil Coleman said in a statement: ‘Easing planning regulations will help operators deliver faster and more robust networks to subscribers who already exhibit an unparalleled demand for mobile data. But the reality of planning controls and regulations will always impact on the perfect network scenario.’