New guidance on poles doesn’t go far enough

New guidance for the installation of poles by internet providers has been published this week, but we feel it still doesn’t go far enough to address the issue blighting local communities. 

The ISPA and the INCA, two bodies which bring together and represent internet providers, have published ‘Best practice Guidance’ for providers who are using poles as part of their roll out of internet services.  

Currently, poles can be placed on residential streets under Permitted Development (PD) rights, which means companies only have to provide minimal notice before placing a new pole on a street. 

The new guidance will ask them to consider better consultation with the local community before placing poles, with the aim of reducing the need for unnecessary poles. 

Our view

At Grain, we believe poles are completely unnecessary – that’s why you’ll never see one in our network. We’re committed to keeping our fibre network out of sight, and underground, where it belongs. We believe our customers deserve fast broadband without the clutter, and local communities benefit from safer streets and unspoiled views. 

Richard Cameron, CEO of Grain said: “While we welcome the guidance, it really doesn’t go far enough. Local communities are tired of the ongoing arrival of poles, popping up on their street unexpectedly, and the guidance may not bring an end to that due to its lack of enforcement. 

“We understand that many providers like poles because they are a cheap way to deliver their network. However, we have chosen to take the more sustainable route of installing our network underground – providing a safe, reliable network for our customers. 

“We have pledged never to use a pole on our network, and our customers welcome this transparency and commitment, as well as the fast, reliable Full Fibre broadband their receive from our underground network.”

Rising complaints

Poles have been a hot topic for a number of years now. Last year, Openreach found themselves in hot water in Southport, where residents were up in arms over the sudden appearance of new telegraph poles in their streets. Many homeowners were frustrated by the lack of consultation, claiming the poles were installed without warning and ruined the aesthetic of their neighbourhoods.  

In some places, like Hull, residents have taken matters into their own hands, cutting down telegraph poles installed by MS3. These poles disrupt the local environment and pose potential safety risks, making them increasingly unwelcome in today’s communities. 

In 2024, Ofcom announced their investigation into BRSK, a broadband network provider, over their installation of telegraph poles in Birmingham without giving the required notice to local planning authorities. While this might seem like a minor technical issue, it speaks to a bigger debate—one that affects communities, local governments, and the future of broadband infrastructure.

Our pledge

We continue to urge other providers to follow our lead and ditch the poles. The communities have spoken, and the message is clear: no one wants them. Let’s build networks the right way, from the ground up. 

At Grain, we’re proud to be leading the charge for cleaner, safer, and more reliable broadband. No poles. No shortcuts. Just solid, dependable fibre.