Ofcom Moot Code Powers for 4 Samey UK Wireless 4G Network Builders

Ofcom has proposed to grant Code Powers (i.e. approval for street works) to four almost identical companies that all exist at the same address and which all plan to expand their existing wireless masts / towers in order to facilitate the roll-out of 4G based Mobile Broadband services by Mobile Network Operators (MNO).

The communications regulator provides a summary of each of the four projects and it’s immediately clear that they’re all based out of the same address and appear to have a practically identical goal. So in order to save our readers time we’ve compiled a quick summary of each below and also added their company numbers (note: the Wireless Infrastructure Company is the parent for all four).

In addition we noted from Companies House that each business appears to have a different history despite being in the same registered office (Level 13, The Broadgate Tower, Primrose Street, London, EC2A 2EW). All of the applicants also claim to have Towers that are spread across urban, suburban and rural locations throughout the UK.

The Wireless Infrastructure Company Limited [Parent Company]
Company No.: 03307001
Date of Incorporation: 24/01/1997

Description of Project:

The Applicant invests in and manages communications towers. It plans to facilitate the roll out of 4G services by mobile network operators by accommodating the changes required to their networks at its existing tower sites and by supporting any new site deployment where necessary. The Applicant considers that this will enable mobile operators to continue to develop and extend their existing networks and help ensure that 4G services are delivered more rapidly than may otherwise be achievable, minimising the need for further infrastructure to be built.

The Applicant also intends to operate and maintain its three fibre-based small cell platform (SCP) networks in London and Manchester. It will also continue to deploy further SCP networks across various sites in the UK over the next 2 – 3 years. These SCPs will assist and support wireless voice and data services and will be capable of supporting delivery of 2G, 3G and 4G services in urban areas across both public and private land.

The Wireless Asset Company Limited
Company No.: 05803392
Date of Incorporation: 03/05/2006

Description of Project:

The Applicant invests in and manages communications towers. It plans to facilitate the roll out of 4G services by mobile network operators by accommodating the changes required to their networks at its existing tower sites and by supporting any new site deployment where necessary. The Applicant considers that this will enable mobile operators to continue to develop and extend their existing networks and help ensure that 4G services are delivered more rapidly than may otherwise be achievable, minimising the need for further infrastructure to be built.

Telecommunications Wireless and Infrastructure Services Limited
Company No.: 06521963
Date of Incorporation: 04/03/2008

Description of Project:

[Identical project description to The Wireless Infrastructure Company Limited]

Open Network Systems Limited
Company No.: 07781907
Date of Incorporation: 21/09/2011

Description of Project:

The Applicant intends to operate and maintain its existing electronic communications network, which consists of three fibre-based small cell platform (SCP) networks in London and Manchester. It will also continue to deploy further SCP networks across various sites in the UK over the next 2 – 3 years. The Applicant considers that these SCPs will assist and support wireless voice and data services and will be capable of supporting delivery of 2G, 3G and 4G services in urban areas across both public and private land.

As usual Ofcom saw no need to reject the requests and has opened the consultations up for responses until 16th December 2013. Approval of the Code Powers request would make it a lot easier for the companies concerned to install and upgrade their related infrastructure as necessary (e.g. digging up pavements etc.).