The Mobile Carriers Forum, which is part of AMTA and represents Optus, Telstra and VHA mobile networks, has lodged its submission with Communications Alliance (CA) as part of a scheduled five-year review of the Deployment of Mobile Phone Network Infrastructure Code (C564:2004).

Since registration of the Code in 2005, the Carriers have followed the Code’s notification and consultation processes for more than 10,000 upgraded or new mobile network telecommunications facilities. The MCF has played a key role in managing Carrier compliance with the Code.

The Industry has provided substantial information about mobile network infrastructure (including towers, poles, cables and antennas) through direct notification and consultation and via the Industry’s Radio Frequency National Site Archive (RFNSA).

The delivery of information has been provided with a very high level of compliance with Code provisions and also in the spirit of the intended purpose of the Code.

Over the past five years the MCF has observed a continuing decline in “Complaints” to the ACMA regarding the Industry’s consultation practices under the Code when establishing telecommunications facilities.

The MCF submission provided information on activities that have been undertaken by the Industry over the past five years since registration of the Code. For example, nearly 10,000 properties were notified about 112 low-impact facilities deployed at new sites in calendar year 2009.

The MCF submission concludes with presentation of the case for maintenance of the current Code with some refinements.

“Low Impact Facilities are essential to maintaining telecommunications networks, and minimising significant planning or environmental issues of concern to the local community. It is only through the consistent application of the Code’s consultation processes that this balance has been retained,” said MCF Program Manager Matt Evans.

“The Code provides essential mandated processes for the Carriers to follow so that community and other stakeholders have the opportunity to be fully informed about Low Impact mobile network.”