Planning laws are to blame for slow internet, says O2

THE boss of O2 has slammed the red tape and outdated planning laws that prevent consumers from getting super-fast internet.

Speaking to the Mail at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the phone giant’s chief executive Ronan Dunne ( pictured), described how the UK’s networks are hampered by onerous restrictions.

‘We are working with laws that haven’t been updated for 30 years which were made for an analogue economy,’ he said.

‘To improve a cell site [where antennae and electronic communications equipment are placed] all you need is a box, about the size of a laptop computer, that you’d barely even notice in the street. But to get one built it can take 18 months to get planning permission.’

His comments came just weeks after the UK was ranked 29th in the world for 4G, the latest highspeed internet for mobile phones. A study by Open-Signal found that for the third quarter of 2015 the UK offered 4G speeds of 15Mbps (megabits per second), ranking it lower than Singapore (37Mbps), New Zealand (29Mbps) and Hungary (28Mbps).

Dunne said another problem is access to mobile masts on private fields or property. The laws governing access to infrastructure on private land have been scrutinised by politicians for five years, but the Government has yet to change the rules.

He added: ‘Mobile operators can be held to ransom by landlords who can charge for access or delay letting engineers on to their land.’

Mobile networks are racing to develop the next generation smartphones and gadgets which will need 5G internet. This works 200 times faster than 4G, according to technology experts – meaning a film can be downloaded to a mobile phone or tablet in just five seconds.

But Dunne urged the UK to prioritise getting its 4G network up to scratch.