The Planning System in New South Wales should recognise network infrastructure for mobile telecommunications as an enabling technology providing opportunities for economic growth, the Mobile Carriers Forum has told the NSW State Government this week, in response to an inquiry underway by the Minister for Planning and the Government’s Better Regulation Office.

The MCF has provided a response to the NSW Government’s Discussion Paper, “Promoting Economic Growth and Competition through the Planning System”. The discussion paper was introduced to initiate debate on how the planning system can increase competition and investment growth in NSW.

Despite the economic slowdown, new mobile broadband subscribers in Australia tripled in the first half of this financial year, which requires Australia’s mobile network carriers to respond with the timely provision of improved mobile telecommunications network infrastructure. “What this equates to is new poles, towers, antennas, dishes and cables, and we need good planning rules that enable the industry to move quickly when required to meet demand for improved services,” said MCF Program Manager Matt Evans.

The inquiry follows a recent State Government initiative to place on exhibition the new “NSW Telecommunications Facilities Code including Broadband” which aims to provide consistent provisions for assessment of mobile network infrastructure across NSW.