Planning permission is being sought to install a new communications mast which will improve phone signal in Old Romney and provide future 5G services.

The application comes from Telefonica (UK) Ltd, also known as O2, and aims to replace the existing equipment at Plumtree Farm in Lydd Road.

The new mast will be 20m tall and will have three antennas and two dish antennas.

Documents reveal that the current mast has "reached the end of its useable operational life and is incapable of housing the latest generation of antennas and associated ancillary equipment required to provide the latest 4G and future 5G services".

As such, the area is "suffering from a deficit of services".

The proposed work will provide "improvements to network coverage and new superfast mobile coverage", the literature states.

The application says that Covid-19 has "altered the way we live, work, and most importantly, stay connected with our family and friends" and therefore keeping connected is "essential to our daily way of life under lockdown".

The design of the new mast has been chosen to "match as closely as possible the existing electronic communications mast, in order to minimise the impact of this proposed equipment upgrade upon the local area".

A decision on the application, submitted to Folkestone and Hythe District Council, could be made by next month.

No public comments have been added to the planning portal.

Search application 21/0168/FH.

To see more public notices, click here.

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