Telecommunications providers are being advised to share cell tower spaces to reduce the erection of the tall imposing antennae towers in residential areas.
This from Senior Minister Dr William Duguid, who has responsibility for the Planning and Development Department.
Duguid said telecommunications company Digicel decided to co-share a space with its competitor, Flow Barbados, as it prepares to remove the controversial cell tower equipment from the small Olive Lodge Road, Holders Hill, St James community following demands from incensed residents.
While not divulging the location, Duguid suggested this was a valid compromise.
“I am not at liberty to discuss those matters,” he said when asked where the tower would be relocated. “The company is making alternative arrangements. They are joining with Flow. Flow has a tower and Digicel would add on their equipment on the same tower.”
Duguid said this was not the first time the telecommunications companies would be sharing tower space.
“As a department we encourage a co-location where both service providers will have their equipment on one tower to reduce the number of towers that are required across Barbados,” he said.
He reiterated that applications for the erection of cell towers must be submitted to the Planning Department before installation.
Asked if the department would now insist that telecommunications companies inform communities about the erection of towers in their neighbourhoods as well as undertake environmental impact studies, he pointed out that the application process involved the regulatory agencies determining “whether environmental impacts, including social impact assessment, [are] required or not and they are done by case by case basis”
If that wasn’t a big up area it would never been an issue. That is the reason why we poor people have to suffer. Why wanna don’t carry the property in de grave. Wanna int see how fast ya dying and wanna fighting bout a Tower that int doing ta wanna. Really grown up .
Sharing existing tower space has both pros and cons, but a crucial consideration is the safety of the structure to carry additional loads, especially in regions prone to hurricanes. On the one hand, sharing tower space can reduce the need for new constructions, minimizing environmental impact and saving resources. However, adding more equipment and weight to an existing tower can compromise its structural integrity, increasing the risk of collapse or damage during extreme weather conditions like hurricanes. This could have devastating consequences, including loss of life and communication services. Therefore, it is essential to conduct thorough structural assessments and ensure that the tower can safely support the additional loads before allowing co-location, particularly in hurricane-prone regions.