Telecom watchdog declines East Yorkshire broadband poles review

People across East Yorkshire have protested against the installation of broadband poles

A watchdog said it would not launch an emergency review into the installation of broadband poles in East Yorkshire.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council wrote to media regulator Ofcom to take action after public protests about the poles being erected across the county.

Ofcom told the authority its powers to stop work were limited.

The regulator added that local telecoms firm KCOM was already obliged to share its infrastructure with other providers.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, an Ofcom spokesperson said it could not force other companies to use KCOM's infrastructure and confirmed no rival had raised a formal dispute.

Last week, KCOM unveiled a new plan for shared infrastructure, while a Government minister called on operators to curb unnecessary installations of poles.

In January, councillors called on Ofcom to suspend all ongoing infrastructure work until a review of the local telecoms market could be conducted. Ofcom's reply stated the regulator had already made it clear to KCOM, along with the challenger companies Connexin and MS3, that they were expected to try to agree to share infrastructure.

The regulator said where no agreement could be made it expected rival companies to raise formal disputes so it could investigate and impose a solution.

It argued the best way to stop the spread of more broadband poles was for companies to be encouraged to work together to resolve the situation.

Ofcom's spokesperson said there were only certain conditions under which it could force companies to stop constructing new infrastructure. This criteria had not been met.

"Ultimately, we can't force other companies to use KCOM's infrastructure," a spokesperson said.

"We can only stop them from deploying their own infrastructure in very limited circumstances, like when national security or public safety are at risk."

Ofcom said its powers to stop pole installations were limited

Independent councillor Coleen Gill said she was frustrated by the lack of action.

She had called on Ofcom to launch an emergency market review into the Hull telecommunications area ahead of one already scheduled for 2026.

"All we were asking for was the review to be brought forward and instead it's been put off," she said.

"Who knows if anyone's going to take this broadband on and we're left with wasted poles just stuck there. I get frustrated when they can't do anything positive for our area."