Britains 5G Expansion Threatened by Farmer Revolt Over Mobile Mast Rents

Britain’s ambitious 5G rollout faces a significant roadblock as rural landowners and farmers threaten to withdraw support for hosting mobile masts, following dramatic rent reductions imposed by telecom operators. Reports have surfaced from regions such as Cornwall and Dorset, where rents have plummeted by as much as 90 per cent, with one farmer’s annual income from mast renting falling from £8,500 to just £750. This squeeze has ignited widespread discontent across the countryside.

A survey of more than 500 site owners revealed that one in three is now contemplating the removal of telecoms infrastructure from their land. The National Farmers Union and Country Land and Business Association, representing rural interests, have highlighted growing frustrations. Landowners argue they could achieve far superior returns, and encounter fewer legal headaches, by transforming land for holiday lets, solar panel installations, or residential developments instead.

Underlying the conflict is the Electronic Communications Code, introduced in 2017 to streamline the installation of mobile infrastructure on public land. Designed to bring rents into line with those paid by utility firms, the code has enabled leading operators EE, VodafoneThree, and O2 to renegotiate rents downwards. Critics claim this model is heavily skewed in favour of the operators, depriving landowners of their fair share, and that proposed legislation may extend these controversial provisions to another 15,000 sites nationwide.

The outcry comes as Labour faces mounting criticism from the rural sector, exacerbated by inheritance tax reforms that have bitten into the finances of family-run farms. Some argue that Labour’s approach is deaf to the concerns of the countryside, potentially hindering rural connectivity goals.

Mobile companies maintain that the reforms have been essential to improving network upgrades efficiently. Defending progress, industry group Mobile UK cites more than 33,500 completed 4G and 5G upgrades since 2017 and emphasises that most property agreements remain amicable. The Electronic Communications Code was credited with enabling broad coverage under the Shared Rural Network, now said to encompass 95 per cent of the UK’s landmass with 4G service.

The government is currently considering responses to a public consultation on these matters. Officials stress the importance of maintaining momentum in 5G network deployment to drive national growth and enhance public services, while expressing a commitment to finding a fair balance between the interests of landowners, operators, and communities.