New masts ‘temporary’

Tuesday 15th April 2008, 12:00PM BST.

Guernsey Airtel have applied to replace this 9m mast at Belgrave Lane, St. Sampson’s, with a 15m mast, and have erected temporary masts in some locations.

AIRTEL has been erecting temporary masts to boost mobile phone signals.

The new-to-Guernsey mobile provider said it had identified key areas that it felt needed coverage improvements and erected temporary masts, with permission from the Environment Department, until permanent solutions can be found.

Masts have been erected at the airport, close to the Happy Landings, at Jerbourg and at Coppercraft, each for 18 months, and one has also been put up next to the TV masts at Pleinmont but is due to be removed at the end of next month. Guernsey Airtel chief operating officer Ian Williams said the masts were not there to help the company achieve its coverage requirement with the OUR.