Vodacom plans to erect a new tower in West Acres. Umsebe Development Planners has applied to Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM) for permission to erect a 30-metre telecommunications mast in a vacant lot on Percy Fitzpatrick Street on behalf of the service provider.
In the notification of its application, Umsebe notes that the mast will improve capacity and Internet speed in West Acres Extension 6 and surrounding areas. “The need for a special consent approval is inevitable.”
According to Usembe, it is in the public’s interest and will cause no nuisance to neighbours or a health risk to the general public. The site is surrounded with a formal residential area, sports facilities, a school and parking, and alternative sites would not provide the required reception and coverage in the intended areas.
Ms Louisa van Beek, managing executive of Vodacom in Mpumalanga, explains that it determines the best technical place for a site by taking into account the existing network, radio-propagation properties, back-haul transmission availability or the line of sight for microwaves, and load on existing infrastructure.
Residents initially had until October 17 to lodge any objections to the one with MLM. To date only a single one has been received. Van Beek says the time frame for objections has been extended in light of any possible impact from the post-office strike.
“It is important for a fair and open process to allow sufficient time for any objections and we would rather wait a while and have a proper process.”
She adds that the application for leasing the lot, which is Mbombela’s property, and the required permits are with the local municipality. Obtaining the required permits and permissions prior to construction are also normally a lengthy process.
“We believe this process is being looked at and will be resolved as soon as possible. There are quite a number of infrastructure developments in town and we are confident that the municipality addresses the requests as quickly as it can.”
Once the necessary approvals have been obtained construction planning can commence – a process which can take up to two months. Vodacom hopes the tower will be on air early in the first quarter of the financial year, starting in April 2015.
