Telecommunications

The telecommunications industry has seen explosive growth since the passing of the Telecommunications Act in 1984 and this has recently been renewed with the liberalisation of the market. The property element to this remains, however, largely unfocused and is undertaken piecemeal by landowners. With the increased number of operators, all with powers under the Telecommunications Code and the high growth in the market size, the issue of wayleaves and wayleave payments requires a highly commercial approach.

Powis Hughes and Associates have been at the forefront of the market, particularly from the landowner perspective, for a number of years and represent some of the UK's largest and most important, from the telecommunications perspective, landowners. We are involved in a range of telecommunications property issues and a sample of our dealings are listed below.

The Crown Estate

On behalf of The Crown Estate we have undertaken the agreement of terms, rentals and reviews in respect of nearly every international underwater telecommunication cable entering the UK. This has included conclusion of a global agreement with Mercury and BT for easier resolution of new cables and reviews. Following the liberalisation of the market, we have concluded transactions with the majority of all newcomers to the UK market. Owning seven major airports within the United Kingdom and from the telecommunications perspective, being nodes of high value international traffic, the British Airports Authority comprises an important, yet compact, telecommunications market. On behalf of BAA, Powis Hughes and Associates have been instructed to overhaul the current payments by BT and to put in place a new documented framework on which future dealings can be based.

Cellular Radio Base Stations

The growth within the mobile telecommunications market, including the entry into the market of new operators, has given rise to the proliferation of masts and base stations throughout the countryside and on buildings in urban locations. We are experienced in the negotiation of rentals and the grant of tenancies in respect of all mobile telecom facilities. The new generation of mobile telcommunications will go to the market in January 2001 and we are informed by the Radiocommunications Agency that the four existing operators are expected to bid, along with several new entrants. The Auction will also herald the arrival of 'roaming' phones to the general UK market.

Sunrise Hill Yard, East Ilsley, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 7LY Telephone: 01635 280100 Fax: 01635 281618 Email: info@powis-hughes.com

A list of Partners and Associates are available for inspection at the above address