Mobile Operators "Improving Consultation"

New research published by MORI shows local authority planners are increasingly satisfied with the consultation carried out by mobile phone operators for base station sites.

MORI research carried out over the past five years for the Mobile Operators Association (MOA) shows positive improvement in all areas of consultation and information year on year.

The research found that:

• Four in five planners (80%) agree there has been an improvement in the quality of information and level of consultation by operators
• Seven in eight planners (88%) feel operators co-operate positively with requests for more information about planning applications
• Three-quarters of planners (75%) agree the operators provide them with enough information about their plans for mobile base stations within their local authority area
• Four in five planners (81%) agree that the operators make themselves available for discussion with planners before submitting applications
• Almost a third of planners (29%) say that there are no areas for mobile phone operators to address more effectively -- up from just over 10% in 2001

Technical details

MORI interviews a representative quota sample of 100 senior local authority planners involved in mobile phone base station planning every May. A quota is set to ensure that the sample is representative of the different types of local councils across Great Britain. The research has been conducted annually since May 2001. Interviews are carried out using CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing).