In relation to the Sure 5G trial

Summary

A request was made to the Communications Commission for details regarding the location, monitoring, and equipment of Sure's 5G trial on the Isle of Man. The Commission responded that it does not hold the requested information as it acts as an economic regulator rather than a technical standards regulator.

Key Facts

• The Communications Commission is the National Regulatory Authority for telecommunications but does not mandate technology or equipment.
• The Commission operates under the Telecommunications Act 1984.
• The authority stated it does not hold information on the precise location of the 5G trial equipment.
• The authority stated it does not hold information on whether the equipment location was advised to the government or public.
• The authority stated it does not hold information on independent monitoring or specific equipment utilized in the trial.

Data Disclosed

• 1371837
• 2020-07-16
• 2020-08-07
• November 15th 2019
• Telecommunications Act 1984
• Freedom of Information Act 2015

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held

Original Request

We understand that Sure commenced 5G trials on the Island on November 15th 2019 and that Sure had been installing equipment for some weeks prior to that. · Could you please advise where precisely the equipment for this trial is located? · Could you please advise whether the precise location of the equipment for this trial was advised to government and to the public? · Could you please advise if an independent body is monitoring this trial? · Could you please advise what equipment is being utilised in this trial?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive: Ivan Kiely Ground Floor, Murray House, Mount Havelock, Douglas Isle Of Man, IM1 2SF Tel: +44(0)1624 677022 Fax: +44(0)1624 626499

Our ref: 1371837 7 August 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 16 July 2020 and which states:

"We understand that Sure commenced 5G trials on the Island on November 15th 2019 and that Sure had been installing equipment for some weeks prior to that. · Could you please advise where precisely the equipment for this trial is located? · Could you please advise whether the precise location of the equipment for this trial was advised to government and to the public? · Could you please advise if an independent body is monitoring this trial? · Could you please advise what equipment is being utilised in this trial?"

The Communications Commission (the Commission) is the National Regulatory Authority for the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors on the Island. In relation to the telecommunications sector the Commission is an economic regulator charged with promoting sustainable competition in the Isle of Man. The Commission is not a technical standards regulator and does not mandate technology or equipment.
The Commission works within the framework of the applicable legislation, the Telecommunications Act 1984. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. I have responded to each of your questions in turn below: Could you please advise where precisely the equipment for this trial is located? The Commission does not hold, or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find this information. Could you please advise whether the precise location of the equipment for this trial was advised to government and to the public?

The Commission does not hold, or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find this information. Could you please advise if an independent body is monitoring this trial? The Commission does not hold, or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find this information. Could you please advise what equipment is being utilised in this trial? The Commission does not hold, or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find this information.

Please quote the reference number 1371837 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours faithfully