INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Church of England (COfE) is reportedly close to agreeing a partnership with a mobile infrastructure firm which would allow mobile
equipment to be added to church spires to improve rural coverage.The height of church spires and the fact that two thirds of churches are in
areas with poor connectivity were the driving factors behind a deal agreed with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) last
year.As part of that arrangement, it is up to individual churches to investigate how their properties can be best used to serve the local
community and to reach agreements with mobile operators
However mobile operators have said that churches have been too keen to monetise their spires rather than strike a deal.Church mobilityThe
CofE has confirmed it is conversations with potential third parties to assist parishes in this process, but no agreement is in place
According to the Financial Times, authorities are in talks with Goldman Sachs-controlled Shared Access, which already has 50,000 sites
by parishes, dioceses and companies to facilitate the provision of connectivity in churches and rural areas
operators have frequently complained about the difficulty in gaining access to sites and that local authorities seem to be preoccupied with
the short term value of street furniture and public infrastructure rather than the long term value that enhanced connectivity might
Vodafone UK, told journalists earlier this month.
