Airtel criticises ‘ill-informed’ decision to reject phone mast
Friday 16th September 2011, 2:29PM BST.
AIRTEL Vodafone has said that the political reaction by members of the Environment Department who rejected the company’s application to erect a mobile phone mast was ill-informed.
An open planning meeting on Monday refused permission to put up the 18-metre pole to increase coverage in the area around at Oakleigh Vinery, Landes du Marche, Vale.
The deputies who made the decision highlighted the amount of localised opposition to the proposal, the visual impact and questioned why a temporary pole currently used elsewhere in the Vale could not be extended and used permanently.
Airtel vice-president Ian Campbell (pictured) said that he understood the concerns of neighbours but was frustrated by some of the comments made by deputies.
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Is yet to understand the logic behind Airtel’s move to Guernsey, Wave and Sure are plenty enough for 60k people.
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Hi.
Surely it’s possible for them to share masts where possible?
The current distribution of masts must be in enought locations around the islands to give a good reception.
And yes Jeff, fair point!
GD.
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If you object to phone masts, like some of these Environment members did, and own/use a mobile phone you are one thing: a hypocrite.
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I thought there was something put in place a few years ago to force operators to share poles. Did this get brushed under the carpet? Agree re enough operators, you only need two to have competition so a third is not necessary or supported by the limited threshhold. Shame Vodafone did not tie in with an existing operator.
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Agree that mast sharing is the best option if possible
Completely disagree that 2 firms is enough competition.
Having at some point or another tried all three of the mobiles firms and having spent quite a lot of time reviewing prices the arrival of airtel has done a lot to bring down mobile prices.
C&W were happy to have high prices as most people stuck with them. Wave were able to slightly undercut them and pick up the few who were willing to move. Airtel have actually cuased both the others to consider what they were charging.
Also C&W have dreadful customer service and wave have dreadful performance.
“Airtel vodaphone, Not qutie as bad as the others”
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Hi Folks
Thanks for your comments, interesting to read. Two points I would like to clarify.
1. Airtel-Vodafone share 77% of its masts. We like sharing as it saves us money. Each mast cost about £100k to put up, so it makes sense to share. We wanted to make this mono pole shareable thus giving other operators the ability to use this site in the future.
2. Airtel-Vodafone has invested here as it believes it can build a profitable business whilst offering customers value for money and good service. In addition, Guernsey is a good environment to try out new technologies and products. For example, number portability, 3G internet, fixed mobile services.
Regards Ian
Ian Campbell – Airtel-Vodafone
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…well that really is interesting, Mr Campbell, because according to the head of Bharti telecom, Sunil Bharti Mittal, his reasons for setting Airtel up in Guernsey aren’t quite as altruistic as you imply.
According to him, Airtel is here as he considers it a ‘stepping stone into Europe’ and he has confirmed that he has his eyes ‘firmly set on the Continent’, also, quote, ‘what’s important is that we learn from our experiences so that once we succeed here we can move into Europe’….
which one could be forgiven for interpreting as he doesn’t give two hoots about Guernsey or upsetting the locals by making the island look like as pincushion, as long as he achieves his actual goal of success in Europe.
http://www.thisisguernsey.com/2008/03/28/islands-are-our-way-into-europe/
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Airtel was quoted in the Press as saying the Guernsey people wanted a third operator. Really? Don’t they mean the OUR wanted a third operator. There are plenty Guernsey people who don’t even want the OUR.
The jury is out on the effects of mobile phone masts. However people might be interested to know that the only compliance the masts have to achieve is to make sure that the radiation from them does not increase the body temperature of any individual by more than 1 degree Centigrade.
And this is only checked once in every five years or so. On any other day they could be exceeding the limit and no-one would know.
Now I am not sure I want my body microwaved and heated up by any amount let alone 1 whole degree. Also there are plenty of people who think that the radiation may have other effects on cells/DNA in addition to heating, but none of this is accounted for in the safety checks. Some countries have limits that are many times more stringent than the ones we have adopted.
The mast density in Guernsey is shocking.
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rocquaine for Chief Minister
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Hi Scarlett, good research. Yes you are correct, part of the orginal the reason the business was located on Guernsey and Jersey is as you say. With regards Guernsey there has been significant investment here, with staffing now 99% local. It is not correct to say Airtel has no interest in Guernsey or does not care about the island – trust me it does.
Rocquaine. Your posting is so incorrect it has to be a spoof…. I hope it is a spoof…
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You work in the industry Mr. Campbell. Surely you should know the basis of the ICNIRP limits.
So perhaps you would like to tell me which part of my post you consider to be ‘so incorrect’ or a ‘spoof’
As for your reply to Scarlett, perhaps you could elucidate on why s/he should ‘trust’ you, other than you want her/him to.
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I’m with you all the way, Rocquaine, the gentleman with whom we are debating would be singing a different tune if he was still working for his previous employer…
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