Plans have been submitted to replace an existing mobile and broadband tower outside Loughrea with a new mast 11m taller.
Cignal Infrastructure are seeking planning permission to replace an existing 25m high mobile and broadband monopole at Ardnadoman West, Loughrea.
In its place the developer intends to erect a 36m high multi-user lattice telecoms tower carrying multiple antennae and dishes.
It will be enclosed in an extended 2.4 metre high palisade fence compound together with associated ground equipment cabinets.
“The development will form part of eir Mobile communications network, and a future operator network,” the application states.
“The operator eir require modifications to their equipment on the site to facilitate an improvement in the coverage in the wider area”.
“And in particular for eir to deploy advanced 4G quadband antennas which the current monopole structure cannot accommodate.”
The planning application goes on to state that eir are currently upgrading their network in the Loughrea area to cater for increased data demands from customers, and to provide for future demands on the network.
The site of the telecoms mast is within forestry to the north of the R446, approximately 3.5km to the west of Loughrea town centre.
The existing monopole mast cannot physically support 4G antennas which, at 2.5m long, are larger than the current 3G array installed.
Along with being able to support larger equipment, the additional height of the multi-user lattice will expand its coverage footprint in the area.
The upgrade will also enable the site to become capable of hosting multiple mobile and broadband operators, which is encouraged under government telecommunications policy to cut down on the number of masts and towers going up.
Cignal Infrastructure is a new telecoms infrastructure provider operating since 2015.
It owns and maintains towers and fibre networks for operators such as eir, Three, Vodafone, and others to use for their phone and internet services.
Galway County Council is due to make a decision on this planning application by May 24.
