Rural Landowners Face Significant Income Reduction as Reforms Take Hold
A substantial portion of rural landowners hosting telecommunications masts are bracing for a dramatic reduction in rental income, with potential cuts reaching up to 90 percent. This comes as a result of accelerated reforms impacting existing agreements.
Figures indicate that between 12% and 18% of current telecoms agreements are scheduled to expire within the next decade. This means thousands of site providers could soon be subject to renegotiations under an updated regulatory framework.
Concerns Over Infrastructure Rollout and Fair Compensation
Landowners and rural advocacy groups have consistently voiced concerns that the reforms could diminish incentives for hosting essential infrastructure, potentially hindering the widespread deployment of 5G technology across the nation.
New measures are set to bring more provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act into effect from April 2026. This expansion will encompass a greater number of mobile phone masts and telecommunications sites under rules initially introduced in 2017, which altered the compensation structure for landowners hosting such equipment.
A Farmer’s Experience: From Pension Savings to Financial Strain
Bill Clarke, a 71-year-old dairy farmer from Cornwall with a family legacy of farming spanning generations, shared his experience. For 25 years, he received an annual rent of £4,800 for a mast on his land. This amount has since been reduced to £2,200.
Initially, this income supplemented his business operations. More recently, he had begun to allocate the funds towards his pension. Mr. Clarke described the situation as “terribly unfair.”
“It’s deeply concerning that the Government chose to extend a policy that will now impact up to 20% of all mast holders across the UK,” Mr. Clarke stated. “I’ve been hosting mobile masts for more than 25 years. Since the 2017 Code came in, the rent on my site has been cut to a level where it ceases to be viable commercially. That income helped cover bills, maintain the land and support my business at a time when many rural firms are already under pressure.”
He added, “Site providers are being asked to support better connectivity and economic growth, and I’m proud to do my bit to help expand 5G in rural areas. But if ministers seriously want to speed up rollout, they need a fairer system that encourages cooperation – not one that leaves site providers feeling penalised for hosting infrastructure. What’s most frustrating is that people who have supported mobile infrastructure for years are now left with little protection or recourse when disputes arise. Many site providers feel their concerns are simply being ignored.”
Government’s Stance: Balancing Infrastructure Needs and Landowner Interests
A spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology commented on the situation, emphasizing the government’s commitment to digital infrastructure development.
“Our priority is to continue delivering high quality digital infrastructure right across the UK, which is critical to boosting growth and improving public services for hard-working communities,” the spokesperson said. “We recognise the vital role landowners play in helping us achieve our ambition of high-quality 5G coverage across all populated areas by 2030, and we have worked closely with stakeholders throughout this process to ensure the reforms strike the right balance between their needs and the digital connectivity needs of communities.”
