Vodafone Disregards Environment - Econet

Vodafone Disregards Environment

"It's a semantic point.” – Vodafone General Manager, Commercial Development

Econet Wireless New Zealand (Econet) is staggered Vodafone has abandoned any pretence of environmental principle by now arguing the distinction between “co-location” and “mast-sharing” is irrelevant.

“While the proliferation of radio masts may not leave a mark on Vodafone’s bank balance, it does leave a mark on the landscape,” said Tex Edwards, Econet’s Chief Project Director.

“Mast-sharing has very significant competition benefits – and we would expect Vodafone to deny those. But, we are staggered Vodafone has the gumption to deny the strikingly obvious environmental benefits.

“Vodafone is effectively saying, as long as we share something – perhaps the farmer’s dirt track or a power source, we don’t give a damn how many towers and masts are erected on the land,” said Edwards.

Vodafone’s new position - that mast-sharing is irrelevant - is also surprising given Vodafone had previously advised Econet that “we have around 50 sites where others co-locate on our masts, with about 30 of these with Telecom”. Thanks to Econet’s road trip, we now know the actual number of mast-shares with Telecom is 3.

“Multiple towers look ugly and stain the environment. Definitions and semantics aside, that, Vodafone, is the point” concluded Edwards.

Ends

© Scoop Media