Planning Process for Installation of Mobile Phone Base Stations

Debated in Parliament on 7 Nov 2016.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

The Minister for National Development explained that while new buildings should have adequate mobile coverage, current practices involve installing base stations on HDB rooftops before residents move in, with potential delays due to construction issues.
HDB, together with Town Councils, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), is working to expedite approval processes and incorporate MNO requirements early in the planning phase of new HDB developments to speed up installations.
The Ministry of Communications and Information and IDA are considering amendments to the Telecommunications Act to allow using rooftops of one building to provide coverage for adjacent buildings, enhancing mobile coverage flexibility.
The Ministry believes that mandating mobile coverage as a Temporary Occupation Permit condition for each building may not be necessary, as effective stakeholder cooperation is more critical for timely and adequate coverage.
The response emphasizes ongoing efforts to improve the planning process without necessarily making mobile coverage a mandatory compliance for building permits.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will review the planning process for the installation of mobile phone base stations to enable such stations to be built during a building's construction stage and make mobile coverage a mandatory compliance for that building's Temporary Occupation Permit.

Lawrence Wong

Adequate mobile coverage should be provided to new buildings in a timely manner. Currently, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) install mobile base stations on the rooftops of selected new Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks to ensure that the area will have good mobile coverage when the residents move in. However, there could be operational delays, such as construction delays to blocks selected for base station installation.

HDB has been working with all stakeholders, including Town Councils, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) and MNOs, to study how to expedite the installation of such base stations. For example, HDB and IDA are looking into the possibility of expediting approval procedures between MNOs and Town Councils. HDB and IDA are also exploring the possibility of incorporating MNOs’ infrastructure and engineering requirements during the pre-tender planning phase of new HDB developments, so that the subsequent physical base station installation works could be accelerated.

Finally, the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and IDA are considering amendments to the Telecommunications Act to facilitate the use of rooftop space of one building to provide mobile coverage in another building. If implemented, it will be easier for MNOs to deploy their equipment on the rooftops of adjacent buildings to improve mobile coverage of a particular area.

Given these ongoing efforts, there may not be a need to mandate mobile coverage as a Temporary Occupation Permit condition for each new building. Ultimately, it is more important to ensure close and effective cooperation among all the relevant stakeholders, which go beyond the developer of the building project.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

The Minister for National Development explained that while new buildings should have adequate mobile coverage, current practices involve installing base stations on HDB rooftops before residents move in, with potential delays due to construction issues.
HDB, together with Town Councils, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), is working to expedite approval processes and incorporate MNO requirements early in the planning phase of new HDB developments to speed up installations.
The Ministry of Communications and Information and IDA are considering amendments to the Telecommunications Act to allow using rooftops of one building to provide coverage for adjacent buildings, enhancing mobile coverage flexibility.
The Ministry believes that mandating mobile coverage as a Temporary Occupation Permit condition for each building may not be necessary, as effective stakeholder cooperation is more critical for timely and adequate coverage.
The response emphasizes ongoing efforts to improve the planning process without necessarily making mobile coverage a mandatory compliance for building permits.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Planning Process for Installation of Mobile Phone Base Stations | PAPERCUTS

Planning Process for Installation of Mobile Phone Base Stations

Debated in Parliament on 7 Nov 2016.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

The Minister for National Development explained that while new buildings should have adequate mobile coverage, current practices involve installing base stations on HDB rooftops before residents move in, with potential delays due to construction issues.
HDB, together with Town Councils, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), is working to expedite approval processes and incorporate MNO requirements early in the planning phase of new HDB developments to speed up installations.
The Ministry of Communications and Information and IDA are considering amendments to the Telecommunications Act to allow using rooftops of one building to provide coverage for adjacent buildings, enhancing mobile coverage flexibility.
The Ministry believes that mandating mobile coverage as a Temporary Occupation Permit condition for each building may not be necessary, as effective stakeholder cooperation is more critical for timely and adequate coverage.
The response emphasizes ongoing efforts to improve the planning process without necessarily making mobile coverage a mandatory compliance for building permits.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah

Lawrence Wong

Summary written by AI (learn more)

The Minister for National Development explained that while new buildings should have adequate mobile coverage, current practices involve installing base stations on HDB rooftops before residents move in, with potential delays due to construction issues.
HDB, together with Town Councils, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), is working to expedite approval processes and incorporate MNO requirements early in the planning phase of new HDB developments to speed up installations.
The Ministry of Communications and Information and IDA are considering amendments to the Telecommunications Act to allow using rooftops of one building to provide coverage for adjacent buildings, enhancing mobile coverage flexibility.
The Ministry believes that mandating mobile coverage as a Temporary Occupation Permit condition for each building may not be necessary, as effective stakeholder cooperation is more critical for timely and adequate coverage.
The response emphasizes ongoing efforts to improve the planning process without necessarily making mobile coverage a mandatory compliance for building permits.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Planning Process for Installation of Mobile Phone Base Stations

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah

Lawrence Wong

Summary

Questions Identified

Planning Process for Installation of Mobile Phone Base Stations

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah

Lawrence Wong

Summary

Questions Identified