Data and Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez has sent a letter to network operators – including Virgin Media O2, Openreach, and KCOM – asking companies to do “everything possible” to share existing telegraph poles before deciding to build new ones.
Companies that fail to comply with the regulations may be subject to an Ofcom investigation and enforcement action.
While Lopez acknowledged telegraph poles are critical to bring faster and cheaper connectivity to people across the UK, she has advised that new infrastructure should only be built above ground when sharing existing infrastructure or installing lines underground is not viable.
In her letter, she warned operators new telegraph poles should only be installed after ensuring appropriate community engagement has taken place and that the siting of new infrastructure will not cause obstructions to traffic or unduly impact the visual amenity of the local area.
The new measures were brought in to make it easier for operators to upgrade and share use of existing underground ducts and telegraph poles.
Lopez's letter comes in the wake of residents and MPs voicing concerns about the duplication of overhead networks, and after she wrote to the Ofcom CEO this week.
In her letter, she requested that the regulator provide guidance to local planning authorities on how to raise complaints, as well as asking for Ofcom’s support in tackling the challenge.
Last week, Lopez invited MPs to discuss the issue at a roundtable and encourage greater community engagement.
Around 80 per cent of the UK has full fibre broadband, up from 6 per cent in 2019. But new networks have required the use of more telegraph poles, which are usually 30 feet tall and are cheaper and less disruptive than underground cables.
Lopez said, "Telegraph poles are a key piece of infrastructure bringing faster connectivity to communities and businesses across the country.
"Most telecoms companies are doing a fantastic job in delivering that connectivity with the support of those communities, by sharing existing infrastructure and taking into account surroundings when putting up new poles.
"But we know that there are some firms that are losing that vital community support by inappropriately or unnecessarily throwing up new infrastructure.
"I have today written to operators asking them to do whatever it takes to share existing infrastructure. We have already made a number of changes to the law to make it easier for them to do so – including allowing operators to fly lines from poles owned by other providers and sharing underground ducts. We reserve the right to take further action if things do not improve and will be discussing next steps with Ofcom."