Planning permission is being sought to erect a 30m telecomms tower at Coillte Forest Athry to provide better broadband and mobile coverage in the Recess area.
The multi-lattice tower will carry nine antennas, six communications dishes, and eight remote radio units according to Cignal Infrastructure Ireland.
The proposed tower would be located in a 10m x 10m compound surrounded by a 2.4m palisade fence.
The proposed development is being sought by Eir and Imagine Broadband to expand their services in the area the application states.
The site of the proposed tower is in forest lands owned by Coillte, off the N59 roughly 4km west of Recess.
The location was chosen for providing the widest catchment area, and because the “dense forest was capable of readily screening the compound”.
The area is currently a “blackspot” for eir mobile coverage according to the plans, while Imagine broadband has no presence in the area. The tower would also facilitate the provision of a third provider not yet agreed on.
Galway County Council is due to make a decision on this planning application by January 22.
