UK Networks Unprepared for AI Traffic, Mobile Operators Warn
VodafoneThree: Existing Sites and Planning Permits Hold Back AI Integration
August 30, 2026 – 10:41 am
VodafoneThree’s networks director, Andrea Donà, has expressed concern about the UK mobile network’s readiness for AI traffic. In an interview with The Guardian, Donà described the potential impact of AI on network quality, comparing it to signal loss experienced in stadiums but made permanent.
"I am embarrassed today at the level of quality of our network," Donà stated.
The UK’s largest mobile operator highlights a critical issue: while they have committed £11 billion to mast upgrades and are reducing their mast count by 30%, more than half of these upgrades still require planning permission. This is despite 96% of the enhancements being implemented on existing structures, suggesting that regulatory hurdles, not financial constraints, are the primary obstacle.
Donà advocates for planning reform, emphasizing that it is a low-cost growth policy that doesn’t require government funding. The European Union already adopted similar measures in 2024 with the Gigabit Infrastructure Act, which provides for automatic approval of permit applications after a four-month period if authorities miss the deadline.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the UK has not adopted these EU regulations, and operators point out the unique challenges they face compared to their European counterparts, including the lack of reliefs on business rates and energy costs for critical national infrastructure like mobile networks.
Additionally, a Spanish startup has raised €150 million to beam 5G to ordinary phones from orbit, bypassing local consent requirements entirely, highlighting the global efforts to bridge the gap between network coverage and technological advancements.