Mobile mast rent cuts signal connection crisis

THE UK's rural connectivity crisis risks deepening as the government bids to slash rents paid to landowners hosting mobile phone masts, it has been claimed.

- BY STEPH SPYRO Environment Editor

Landowner Roger Foxwell has had multiple masts for more than 25 years on his Somerset property.

However, rent on them has now significantly reduced. The Electronic Communications Code of 2017 changed how mobile mast rental rates are calculated, replacing market-value rents with a "no-scheme" valuation to make it cheaper and faster for operators to build and upgrade their networks, particularly for 5G. But this reform has led to significant rent reductions for some landowners, sparking disputes and, according to critics, slowing infrastructure development.

Mr Foxwell said: "At one point I had four on my land.