About the Telecommunications Poles Working Group
The Telecommunications Poles Working Group was set up by the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) and the Independent Networks Cooperative Association (INCA) upon request from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The purpose of the group was to review the 2016 Cabinet and Pole Siting Code of Practice, share best practice across the industry, and engage with key stakeholders, including but not limited to Local Authorities and Ofcom, the communications regulator.
About the Best Practice Recommendations
Ensuring widespread support for fibre rollout, including occasional use of new poles, is critical to the success of the rollout programme. Through the engagement process undertaken in developing this guidance, a number of best practice recommendations have been identified, and are recommended to be followed by all members of both associations (ISPA and INCA).
These recommendations flow from a commitment towards supporting local communities (the “Community Commitment”), and sit alongside mandatory legislation, including the Electronic Communications Code (conditions and restrictions) Regulations 2003 (as amended), Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2016, and the Code of Practice.
Supporting providers
The following providers are supporting the Best Practice Recommendations at the time of launch (March 2025):
- BRSK
- Cityfibre
- Community Fibre
- Freedom Fibre
- FullFibre
- Gigaclear
- IXwireless
- MS3
- Netomnia
- Nexfibre
- OGI
- Openreach
- toob
- Virgin Media O2
- Wessex Internet
- Zzoomm
Providers that want to indicate that they are following the Best Practice Recommendations can do so by adding the following logo to their communications with the public, local authorities and other stakeholders.
Find the best practice guidance here.
If you have any questions about the document, please contact: policy@ispa.org.uk.