In accordance with section 18(1)(p) of the Telecommunications Act, Chap. 47:31, the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (the Authority) is responsible for ensuring the orderly and systematic development of telecommunications throughout Trinidad and Tobago. A key aspect of this mandate is ensuring the orderly deployment of telecommunications infrastructure and therefore, regulations have been established to facilitate infrastructure sharing arrangements among concessionaires, to protect the environment and optimise the use of network facilities.
It is in this context, that the Authority, in conjunction with the Town and Country Planning Division (TCPD), works to limit the unnecessary proliferation of towers throughout the country.
The TCPD is responsible for granting planning permissions for the erection of towers and requires the relevant non-objection from the Authority as it applies to the location of towers.
According to the Planning Policy for Public Mobile Telecommunication Services prepared by the TCPD in 2007 “All applicants for planning permission for the erection of cellular towers must obtain the prior approval of the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago to certify that the structure:
- can facilitate co-location of telecommunications equipment for providing telecommunications and/ or broadcasting services,
- will not support transmitters in contravention of the defined SAR conditions and
- meets technical requirements necessary to fulfil TATT‟s mandate to limit the development of interference in the radio spectrum.”
To obtain this approval, applicants must complete the following form and submit to the Authority