CONTROVERSIAL plans have been submitted to install a 20-metre high 5G broadband pole in Carlisle

Last week Carlisle City Council received an application for the mast next to the Sainsbury’s service station, on Bridge Street, by applicant Hutchison 3G Ltd.

5G is the fifth generation of mobile wireless communications technology — which uses shorter, higher-frequency bands of the radio spectrum.

Some researchers believe that in real-world conditions, 5G could deliver browsing and download speeds 10 to 20 times faster than the 4G network. 

Although some concerns over the safety of 5G have been raised in the past, it is considered safe.

Coun Louise Atkinson, who represents Cathedral and Castle on Carlisle City Council, said residents had not expressed any concerns.

She said: “I’ve been out an awful lot recently campaigning and door knocking, and not one single person has raised this with me.

“There’s some work going on around the maternity hospital and people are more concerned about the state of the road.

“I know what some people’s concerns are about 5G, but I haven’t heard any of them.

“If anyone does have concerns, please get in touch with me.” 

The supplementary information document that was submitted to the council states:

“There is now a requirement to upgrade the UK H3G (Three) network to provide improved coverage and capacity, most notably in relation to 5G services. 

“This proposal is for a 20m street works monopole located on the adopted highways at Bridge Street. 

“As with all 5G cells this is an extremely constrained cell search area. 

“Options are extremely limited and the only viable solution that minimises amenity issues has been put forward.

“Three are in the process of building out the UK’s fastest 5G network. 

“Three has 140MHz of 5G spectrum, which means our service will be much faster and able to handle more data. 

“To bring this new technology to the people H3G will need to provide a mix of upgrades to existing sites and the building of new sites. 

“New sites will be needed for many reasons, including that the higher radio frequencies used for 5G do not travel as far as those frequencies currently in use and that sometimes not all existing sites can be upgraded.

"In this area there is an acute need for a new mast to deliver the above.”