Wire · operational-macro
5G tech on lampposts approved despite safety fears
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Fusion42 · 17 July 2026 · Fusion42 review
Devon County Council approved plans to attach 5G equipment to street lights across the county, generating £300-£350 annually per lamppost despite councillor safety concerns. The move aims to boost rural connectivity where coverage lags at 45-66% versus the 96% national average.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of IoT & Edge.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
If you're building rural connectivity or last-mile broadband, councils have just opened their asset base as a distribution layer and revenue source. Devon's 45% coverage gap and the council's approval route—without planning scrutiny—signals that local authorities across the UK will now license their infrastructure to carriers at scale.
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1 source · 17 Jul 2026
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