Sustainability

Cellnex Ireland promotes the Get Connected initiative as a platform to channel the demand for better connectivity by local communities where there is poor or no broadband coverage (black spots) that hinders the development of social, employment and economic activity, particularly in rural areas.

Having successfully launched in over nine counties, to date the initiative has been successfully implemented at 20 sites and  Cellnex Ireland is working with over 30 communities to assess the requirements in their area and to identify and plan the most appropriate solution.

In 2023, Cellnex Ireland commissioned a further six rural connectivity sites. Locals in these areas can now enjoy enhanced mobile coverage which offers them the connectivity they require in their day-to-day lives.

The Strategic Priority “Being a Facilitator of Social progress”, in the Cellnex ESG Master Plan, identifies an action to create materials to explain to the public that 5G networks are designed to minimise power and they use a new, advanced and highly efficient radio architecture resulting in optimised levels of exposure to electromagnetic fields. In this regard, the Cellnex UK team wanted to raise awareness of the benefits of 5G, provide opportunities for the public to self-educate on this topic through a clear Communication and Action Plan based around education, information, process, best practice, partnerships and duty of care.

This approach is largely centred around signposting communities to reliable sources of information on 5G health and safety, such as by the WHO, ICNIRP and the UK Health Security Agency. Also to ensure best practice engagement with communities as part of the delivery process and help explain the need for apparatus on the sites and benefits of mobile connectivity. The team continues to build its communication through a Community Relations Strategy based around education, information, process, best practice, partnerships and duty of care. All this community liaison work is designed to minimise risk and disruption to Cellnex UK business infrastructure, customer delivery and growth.

In 2023 Cellnex UK has continued to support several communities through the London Community Foundation to tackle digital poverty across London. Some of those communities as PLIAS, Resettlement, Holborn Community Association and ClearCommunityWeb were invited to join the UK team at Cellnex for a webinar to mark ‘Get Online Week’.

In Greater Manchester, we have partnered with Forever Manchester to support the development of digital inclusion projects, addressing three main topics: empowering communities and places; increasing confidence, skills and motivation; and affordability, accessibility, and connectivity.

In Scotland, our partnership with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and co-funding with Scottish Government, has allowed us to support the Digital Participation Charter Fund Round 9, which invests in community digital inclusion projects.

In Poland, employees had the opportunity to take part in the “Rusz się z nami – razem raźniej” (“Move with us – together we are stronger”) charity competition as a part of annual Wellbeing Month.