Press Release: 5G Rollout at Risk - MIF welcomes Government Consultation while highlighting urgent need to fully deal with 6,200 sites stuck in legislative limbo.

Figures Released Today Demonstrate Success of Electronic Communications Code (‘ECC’) Reforms While Highlighting Pressing Need for Full Implementation of the Product Security and Telecoms Infrastructure (‘PSTI’) Act.

LONDON, 20 May 2025 – The Mobile Infrastructure Forum (‘MIF’), comprised of the UK's major operators of shared macro wireless infrastructure welcomes the Government's Consultation on implementing some of the remaining elements of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (‘PSTI’) Act 2022 published on 7 May 2025. Simultaneously, MIF is publishing a set of figures that reveals both the significant progress made and critical challenges that remain across the UK's wireless infrastructure landscape. 

These figures show that MIF participants have successfully delivered over 32,500 4G and 5G service upgrades since the Electronic Communications Code (‘ECC’ or ‘Code’) reforms in 2018, with more than 4,600 leases having now been consensually agreed between infrastructure providers and landlords.

The Government's Consultation is a significant step towards addressing the fact that 6,200 mobile sites – 16% of the UK's total – currently remain under legacy legal frameworks governed by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and equivalent legislation in Northern Ireland. While we welcome this progress, until the PSTI Act is fully implemented these sites continue to face obstacles to essential upgrades needed by approximately 15 million customers, impacting critical investment in the UK's digital infrastructure.

"While we welcome the government's consultation as a positive step forward, the data we have released today clearly shows why full implementation is essential. The ECC reforms have been remarkably successful in facilitating the upgrading of the UK’s mobile networks. We now have a clear, efficient and well drafted legal framework," said Belinda Fawcett, Chair of MIF. "It is fantastic that we’ve seen 4,600 consensual agreements being reached, but it's now crucial that the government implements all outstanding elements of the PSTI Act."

Code Reforms Driving Consensual Agreements

The numbers released today illustrate the extremely high rate of consensual agreements being reached between infrastructure providers and site providers. The PSTI has established a legal framework that is working effectively, with most landowners and infrastructure providers reaching consensual agreements without the need for any litigation.

Further analysis reveals the effectiveness of the specialist Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) in handling telecommunications cases efficiently and consistently. Since the PSTI Act was passed, only 39 renewals have required a full court hearing to date since the PSTI Act was implement in 2022, with over 60% of these cases being raised via a single land aggregator.

The expert knowledge and consistency provided by the specialist tribunal has created predictability in the market, encouraging consensual settlements and avoiding unnecessary litigation – a significant win for all stakeholders. The code and PSTI are delivering results. MIF continues to urge government to extend the tribunal’s jurisdiction to cover all telecommunications infrastructure sites.

"The evidence clearly shows that the ECC reforms are working as intended, with high rates of consensual agreements and minimal litigation," continued Fawcett. "Fully extending these successful reforms, including the change of jurisdiction, to all the remaining sites would unlock significant infrastructure investment and accelerate delivery of the connectivity that underpins the UK's digital economy."

Tracking Progress

MIF is today committing to provide transparent metrics on the following every 6 months:

• Lease renewals achieved

• The number of service upgrades achieved

• Volume of sites still trapped under legacy legislation

  
  

The dataset will be available at www.mobileinfrastructureforum.org

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Notes

• MIF’s participants are the four major operators of shared  macro wireless infrastructure in the UK; Cellnex UK, Cornerstone, MBNL and Wireless Infrastructure Group.

• MIF’s goal is to support delivery of world class mobile infrastructure to improve wireless connectivity for society and businesses throughout the UK.

• Infrastructure operators build, own and operate the physical infrastructure (including masts, towers, and rooftop sites) that mobile network operators place their macro network  equipment on to provide services to their customers.

• Wireless infrastructure operators have long held ECC rights, working collaboratively with mobile network operators and landowners to deploy and manage the physical infrastructure that enables mobile connectivity.

• Currently, there are approximately 40,000 mobile infrastructure sites across the UK, of which about 6,200 (16%) have leases falling under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

• Application to court for lease renewal proceedings is common practice property law procedure across all sectors (via the 1954 Act), not exclusive to telecommunications, with most cases resolving consensually long before reaching a full hearing.