Telstra’s use of cell on wheels trailers threatened – Telco/ISP

Telstra is concerned it could be unintentionally barred from deploying its cell on wheels (CoW) transportable cellular foundation stations underneath new legislative instruments at the moment being proposed.

Law improvements passed previous 12 months produced it is less difficult for telcos to deploy particular forms of momentary telecommunications infrastructure in “emergencies, peak getaway periods, and [at] big sporting, cultural and other events”.

But you can find a glitch, the carrier reckons, and it stems from what is interpreted as “low impact” and therefore not subject to regional scheduling legislation or if not required to find excess permissions (assume councils) in buy to work.

With telco legislation being basically a federal affair, the previous Section of Communications revealed publicity drafts of a new lower-effect facilities dedication (LIFD) at the finish of previous 12 months.

Telstra claimed the proposed principles for a momentary above-floor facility, as they stand, would have the outcome of prohibiting ongoing use of the carrier’s CoW trailers, which are usually deployed to disaster-hit spots to get cellular products and services back again on-line.

The CoW itself consists of a trailer with an extendable “pump up” mast and antennas on leading.

However, the principles as they stand would prohibit a momentary above floor facility from also having a tower, as very well as impose a whole peak restrict of five metres.

“Telstra is concerned that the prohibition of a momentary tower (included with a momentary above floor facility) … and the peak restrict … has an unintended consequence of prohibiting the use of a Cell on Wheels (CoW),” it claimed.

“Having used the proposed amendments to situation studies, it seems that the Telstra CoW … would not be permitted … as its designed-in pump up mast is included into a momentary above floor facility.

“In addition, the CoW’s momentary antennas found at the leading of the pump-up mast exceed five metres above floor, so do not comply with the peak restrict.”

Telstra has asked the department to improve the proposed LIFD to remove what it sees as an “unintended consequence”.

It has also asked the govt to make a further more improve to the principles to “expressly allow” carriers to run aerial cables to and from the momentary infrastructure.

“Carriers use aerial cables to link momentary facilities and can typically do so extra immediately than installing underground cables and with much less environmental effect,” it claimed.

“Which includes momentary aerial cables as a new product in the LIFD would enable carriers to link the momentary facilities to backhaul and ensure the operation of the momentary facility.”