Guidance

Access to public sector assets

This section presents an overview of providing communications operators with access to public sector assets.

• From: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
• Published: 20 December 2018
• Last updated: 27 August 2020 — See all updates

Introduction

The inability to secure suitable sites for electronic communications equipment is one of the biggest barriers to network deployment. Network providers require different kinds of sites for different kinds of network deployment, such as ducts for fibre, rooftops of tall buildings for macro cell sites and street furniture for small cell sites. They may also require rights to cross land in order to reach a site or to install fibre networks.

Local authorities can facilitate network deployment by making their assets and land available to network providers. Both local authorities and network providers can benefit from the use of local authority assets in this way.

This guidance provides advice for local authorities on:

• taking proactive action to map land, buildings and other assets that are potentially suitable for digital deployment;
• how to engage with industry when rights to access or use public sector assets is requested by network providers;
• how to progress agreements for the use of public sector assets quickly, efficiently and in line with the legislative framework and public policy

Mapping public sector assets

Local authorities are encouraged to identify suitable assets and infrastructure that they own that could be made available to support the installation of gigabit and mobile networks.

Engaging with industry to promote and encourage the use of public sector land and assets for digital deployment

This section outlines best practice guidance on ways to encourage and provide access to local authority land, buildings and other assets for digital deployment by effective engagement with industry

Access agreements: form and terms

This section provides advice on access agreements and how local authorities can engage constructively with industry to reach agreements that are aligned to the legislative framework and public policy

Homepage: Digital Connectivity Portal

Published 20 December 2018
Last updated 27 August 2020 + show all updates

1. 27 August 2020

   Updated guidance on engaging with industry to promote and encourage the use of public sector land and assets for digital deployment

2. 20 December 2018

   First published.