Ofcom UK Open Second Investigation into IX Wireless’ Broadband Poles

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today opened a second investigation into wireless broadband operator IX Wireless (supported by ISP 6Gi / Opus Broadband). The probe will examine whether the provider failed in its duty to ensure that its overhead lines were at the correct height and that they complied with rules around the inspection and maintenance of infrastructure.

Just to recap. IX Wireless, which holds an aspiration to cover 250,000 UK premises with their new network (here), is currently building their hybrid fibre and wireless broadband network across several towns in the North West of England, such as Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Nelson, Accrington, Thornton-Cleveleys, Fleetwood, Blackpool, Tameside and Oldham etc.

However, the “up to” 15-metre-high metal poles (masts) that they build don’t always go down well with residents in all of the areas where they build (some people often highlight their negative visual appearance), although in being a wireless service they only need to deploy a smaller number in order to cover a wide area.

Suffice to say that IX Wireless has sometimes attracted complaints, which in May 2025 resulted in Ofcom launching an investigation (here) into a single deployment of an IXW pole in Rochdale (installed during 2023). The probe is currently examining whether or not the operator correctly considered the need to “minimise the impact on the visual amenity” of nearby properties during their installation.

The bad news today is that Ofcom has opened a second investigation into the same network operator, albeit for a different reason. The new probe will look at whether IX Wireless has complied with requirements to ensure that lines installed over the carriageway of a maintainable highway are placed at least 5.5 metres above the surface of the road.

The regulator is also looking at compliance with rules around the inspection and maintenance of infrastructure to ensure it does not cause damage or injury.

Ofcom Statement (CW/01322/09/25)

Ofcom has today opened an investigation into IX Wireless’ compliance with its obligations under the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003/2533 (as amended) (‘the Regulations’).

The Electronic Communications Code is designed to facilitate the installation and maintenance of electronic communications networks across the United Kingdom. IX Wireless, as a designated “Code Operator”, benefits from certain rights under the Code. But when exercising these rights, Code Operators are also subject to conditions and restrictions. Among other obligations, IX Wireless is required to comply with the Regulations, including requirements to:

➤ ensure that any lines installed over the carriageway of a maintainable highway or, in Scotland, a public road are placed at least 5.5 metres above the surface of the highway or road (Regulation 4(2)(a)); and

➤ inspect and maintain his electronic communications apparatus, other than apparatus installed underground or inside a building or other permanent structure, so as to ensure that it will not cause injury to any person or damage to property (Regulation 10(1)).

Where Ofcom has reasonable grounds for believing that a contravention of the conditions and restrictions imposed by the Regulations has occurred or is occurring, Ofcom may take enforcement action under section 110 of the Communications Act 2003.

Ofcom’s investigation will examine whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that IX Wireless failed to comply with Regulation 4(2)(a) and/or Regulation 10(1), relating to the height of cable lines and to the inspection and maintenance of its apparatus.

We will gather further information and publish an update to our investigation in due course.

Ofcom’s powers in this area remain quite limited (here) and investigations like this often take a long time to run their course (they launched an investigation of Brsk’s deployment of poles in Sept 2024 and imposed a £14k fine in July 2025 – here), which suggests that we’ll probably have to wait until around mid-2026 to see the outcome of this one too.

Network operators will no doubt be watching the regulator’s investigations very closely, since such things always have the potential to set new precedents for their own deployments of similar infrastructure. On the other hand, IXW’s large metal poles/masts are visually quite different, as well as being much larger, than your typical c.9 metre high wooden telegraph / telecoms poles (i.e. any ruling may not be directly translatable to the latter).

Finally, it’s worth noting that the ISPA and INCA this year published new ‘Best Practice Guidance’ for gigabit broadband operators that are building new poles as part of their UK network expansions. The guidance aims to support the Government’s goal of “ending the deployment of unnecessary telegraph poles” (here), not least by requiring providers to engage more closely with communities before they build (details here).