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Case Study: Temporary tower to ensure network coverage continuity

Posted on 8th April 2021 at 17:15
Acquisition, Planning, Design and Construction 
Innovative approach to deploy a temporary tower to ensure network coverage continuity. 
End Client: MBNL – Working with DAEL Telecom as their acquisition partner 
Scope: Acquisition, Planning, Design and Construction 
Programme: NCCS (Network Coverage Continuity) 
Challenge: To deploy a temporary tower to ensure network coverage continuity whilst the existing tower is de-commissioned and a new permanent structure deployed within the existing demise. 
Background 
DAEL, our client, were approached by MBNL due to their experience, and demonstratable efficiency in deploying temporary telecoms structures. The requirement from MBNL was for us to deploy a temporary structure, move all the existing equipment from the current permanent tower to the temporary tower and integrating the installation into the network. The permanent tower was then decommissioned, removed, a new tower installed and rigged and commissioned (this work being completed by the permanent build SWC). Upon completion of the permanent build, we would then remove the temporary structure and re-instate. DAEL utilised our acquisition services for this important programme of work due our strong experience within this area and our ability to work and deliver to tight timescales. 
Solution 
Prior to any on the ground activity the acquisition team would work with the construction and deployment to team to define areas that would facilitate the successful deployment. This would require the site to be a maximum of 50m away from the existing site, to ensure coverage and transmission solutions were not compromised. This would often result in the only available option being the current SP, or the former SP in the cases where a site had been sold to a lease aggregator. As a lot of these tower swaps were being carried out under existing rights, landowners were often initially quite hostile to the proposals. Therefore, it was at the desktop review stage where it was critical to fully understand what was required from a deployment perspective, what the rights the lease granted and have an understanding of the mindset of the SP. 
 
An innovative approach that was taken in many cases, depending on specific lease clause wording, was to deploy the site under the existing alteration rights, provided access to the SPs surrounding land was permitted under the lease. Effectively the tower was being deployed as part of the enabling works to allow the existing tower to be altered. To help facilitate this and ease the conversation with what may potentially become a very hostile SP, a disturbance payment was offered for the inconvenience caused for the deployment and recovery of the temporary structure, not the occupation of the structure. 
 
This had the benefit of deflecting what could be an awkward situation, but also allowing prompt deployment of the temporary structure with no re-course to temporary licences and any implication that this may have had under the new Code, especially with a permanent tower occupation under the old code. Additionally the disturbance payment was paid as a project cost, and not an estates cost, with the twofold benefit of the charge would form part of the wider project deployment cost, this speeding up the payment and not requiring the estates function to process and raise the payment. In instances where a temporary licence to occupy was required, this was drafted in a new code compliant format. 
Achievement 
By adopting an innovative approach, combined with working closely with the deployment teams, it has been possible to deploy temporary sites with minimal lead time, typically less than three months from the initial instruction to a tower deployed. Critically the SP relationship has been retained, and in some cases has been improved, due to the fact that we have liaised closely with the SP and been open and clear with them as to what the project is about. Also, by minimising the requirement for a temporary licence it has resulted in a quick confirmation of access, with agents rarely being appointed, thus keeping costs and time delays to the minimum. 
Relevance of this Instruction 
5G deployment will place a significant requirement on new tower deployment during the coming years to facilitate the full complement of active antennas and technologies available for full 5G deployment. By adopting an innovative approach to retaining network continuity, lengthy new code lease agreements can be avoided, additional landlord consent avoided in a lot of cases leading to a speedy legal access and subsequent deployment. 
Background 
DAEL, our client, were approached by MBNL due to their experience, and demonstratable efficiency in deploying temporary telecoms structures. The requirement from MBNL was for us to deploy a temporary structure, move all the existing equipment from the current permanent tower to the temporary tower and integrating the installation into the network. The permanent tower was then decommissioned, removed, a new tower installed and rigged and commissioned (this work being completed by the permanent build SWC). Upon completion of the permanent build, we would then remove the temporary structure and re-instate. DAEL utilised our acquisition services for this important programme of work due our strong experience within this area and our ability to work and deliver to tight timescales. 
Solution 
Prior to any on the ground activity the acquisition team would work with the construction and deployment to team to define areas that would facilitate the successful deployment. This would require the site to be a maximum of 50m away from the existing site, to ensure coverage and transmission solutions were not compromised. This would often result in the only available option being the current SP, or the former SP in the cases where a site had been sold to a lease aggregator. As a lot of these tower swaps were being carried out under existing rights, landowners were often initially quite hostile to the proposals. Therefore, it was at the desktop review stage where it was critical to fully understand what was required from a deployment perspective, what the rights the lease granted and have an understanding of the mindset of the SP. An innovative approach that was taken in many cases, depending on specific lease clause wording, was to deploy the site under the existing alteration rights, provided access to the SPs surrounding land was permitted under the lease. Effectively the tower was being deployed as part of the enabling works to allow the existing tower to be altered. To help facilitate this and ease the conversation with what may potentially become a very hostile SP, a disturbance payment was offered for the inconvenience caused for the deployment and recovery of the temporary structure, not the occupation of the structure. 
 
This had the benefit of deflecting what could be an awkward situation, but also allowing prompt deployment of the temporary structure with no re-course to temporary licences and any implication that this may have had under the new Code, especially with a permanent tower occupation under the old code. Additionally the disturbance payment was paid as a project cost, and not an estates cost, with the twofold benefit of the charge would form part of the wider project deployment cost, this speeding up the payment and not requiring the estates function to process and raise the payment. In instances where a temporary licence to occupy was required, this was drafted in a new code compliant format. 
Achievement 
By adopting an innovative approach, combined with working closely with the deployment teams, it has been possible to deploy temporary sites with minimal lead time, typically less than three months from the initial instruction to a tower deployed. Critically the SP relationship has been retained, and in some cases has been improved, due to the fact that we have liaised closely with the SP and been open and clear with them as to what the project is about. Also, by minimising the requirement for a temporary licence it has resulted in a quick confirmation of access, with agents rarely being appointed, thus keeping costs and time delays to the minimum. 
Relevance of this Instruction 
5G deployment will place a significant requirement on new tower deployment during the coming years to facilitate the full complement of active antennas and technologies available for full 5G deployment. By adopting an innovative approach to retaining network continuity, lengthy new code lease agreements can be avoided, additional landlord consent avoided in a lot of cases leading to a speedy legal access and subsequent deployment. 
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