The UK Government sent a “stay at home” text to the whole nation via mobile networks as part of the COVID-19 outbreak response

We would like to say “Thank You” for your support in continuing to facilitate site access to our telecommunications apparatus so our key workers can carry out essential works to keep the networks running during the on-going COVID-19 outbreak.

As the UK remains in a nationwide lockdown amid its fight against the outbreak, the 24/7 availability of communication services is critically important as people rely on these for almost every element of this new way of daily life.  Fully operational telecommunications infrastructure is needed to support mass homeworking and connectivity to emergency and medical services.

In light of this, the Government has issued its most recent guidance on telecommunications infrastructure deployment, that sets out and clarifies that telecommunications, including mobile networks, are a critical sector in new Government regulations and legislation, recognising the ongoing importance of the telecommunications industry at this crucial time.

Key aspects of the new regulations:

  • Work to repair and maintain the telecommunications network must be allowed to continue at the current time.
  • Site Providers should continue to provide access to sites to inspect, maintain, adjust, repair or upgrade electronic communications equipment.
  • Network operators must be able to rectify network outages promptly and to mitigate any effects of network degradation over the duration of this emergency period.
  • Gatherings of more than two people are permitted where this is essential for work purposes.  Workers must follow the guidance about taking precautions to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Full guidance statement can be found here.

For the list of critical sectors identified by the Government please view here.

MBNL is committed to doing its utmost to maintain our vital networks for the tens of millions of EE and Three mobile customers in the UK.  In line with Government guidance, we are concentrating our resources on tasks that are absolutely essential to supporting the country’s critical national infrastructure by making sure communication services remain accessible for key workers at the forefront of the outbreak response, enabling businesses and individuals to carry on as normally as possible, and protecting the most vulnerable in society.

Your support helps to connect the whole nation

Thank you again to our site providers who have been in touch since our last communications to inform us of your contingency plans and offered extra help for prompt site access and safety.  We would appreciate it if you could continue to keep us updated on your arrangements to facilitate site access to the telecommunications apparatus.  Please also take any measures necessary to ensure that these arrangements can be used at all times.  This is vital for our key workers to carry out repairs to any service-affecting faults and to continue our essential capacity upgrades.  Please be assured that we and our partners are following all Government guidelines to ensure the health and safety of both your and our workforce as well as the public.

Please email site.access@mbnl.co.uk (stating the premise name and postcode in the subject heading) to tell us of any changes to your “call out” procedure, or request for our support to set up one.

We will continue to monitor the latest Government advice and keep you informed. We thank you for your continued support to work with us to keep the country connected and help everyone to ride out this crisis.

Thank you.

Note: In response to the recent emergence of a groundless claim that 5G is linked to coronavirus, we would like to draw your attention to government and telecoms industry sources for the accurate information.

Please click at these links to view the information: UK Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
Mobile UK (the trade association for the UK’s mobile network operators)