Member Article

Mobile phone companies Vodafone and Telefónica O2 have agreed to pool their UK network infrastructure They are following the lead of H3G and T-Mobile, who are already one year into their joint consolidation project.

The operators aim to share existing sites with the intention of reducing the total rent roll each company pays to landlords.

For a landowner approached with a request to terminate an agreement, or to give consent to the sharing of facilities, it is important to know whether you are obliged to give the consent requested.

If not, there is scope for negotiation and the possibility of receiving payments from the operators.

The payment could be in the nature of an agreed sum in return for the early termination of an existing arrangement, or you may want to insist on an improvement of terms - such as a rent increase - as a condition of giving consent to the sharing of facilities.

The opportunities available or otherwise will depend on the terms of the agreement in place.