5G tech on lampposts approved despite safety fears

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. 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.