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Lecture

Telecom towers, masts, and poles

Have you ever stopped to look at the many types of telecommunications towers, masts, or poles that line our streets, roadsides, or rooftops?

About

One of the most clearly visible parts of the telecommunications industry is the many towers, masts, and poles which adorn roadsides, roofs and hilltops. Indeed, there is a plethora of such structures ranging from the most minor mobile phone cell site to the ubiquitous telegraph pole and the iconic BT Tower. 

From the days of the Armada, telecommunications towers have been used to ensure messages can be sent over many miles.  

Today, they play an essential role in the delivery to consumers of radio and television programmes, telephony, and broadband while also forming an important element of national telecommunication backbone networks. 

This lecture showcases the many types of telecommunications towers, masts, and poles that exist, considers their history and evolution, explains their function and why a wide variety of forms is required, highlights some unusual and little-known features and in so doing, brings to life an essential aspect of telecommunications on which our daily lives are so dependent, but which often goes unnoticed or unappreciated.

Telecommunications

1

Continuing Professional Development

This event can contribute towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours as part of the IET's CPD monitoring scheme.

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28 Mar 2025 

11:30am - 3:30pm

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Organiser

  • London Local Network

Registration information

These lectures are preceded by an optional lunch where there is an opportunity to network with colleagues.

If you wish to attend this lecture, please book a place on the IET website.

During the booking process, you will have the opportunity to pre-book a lunch at Savoy Place.  The cost for a two-course meal with wine is £20.83 + VAT (£25 inc VAT). It is ESSENTIAL to pre-book lunch and pay for it on this website.

Reservations for lunch can be made up to 11 pm on the Monday prior to the event (subject to availability).

Bookings for the lecture only can be made up to noon on the day prior to the event (subject to availability).

No payment for the event lunch can be made at Savoy Place.

FAQ’s

You don’t need to be a member to log into the system.
You can book for more than one person; you need to add the other guest(s) name(s).
You can add any special dietary requirements during the booking process.
The website price quoted is exclusive of VAT.  VAT will be added when you pay.
You will receive a confirmation of your booking and payment made.
You can cancel your booking - the T&Cs are below.  You can do this by contacting: events@theiet.org

Terms and conditions

5+ days before the event date - Full refund
4 days before the event date - No refund
Name substitutions are accepted at any time by email; the IET reserves the right to charge a transfer fee.

Speakers

Professor Emeritus Nigel Linge

Professor Emeritus of Telecommunications - University of Salford

Nigel Linge is Professor Emeritus of Telecommunications at the University of Salford where he spent 37 years working as a member of academic staff teaching students and carrying our research in the field of data communications and networks.  An electronic engineer by profession, his research work embraced 5G mobile, location and context-based services, communication protocols, the delivery of multimedia services, network design and architectures. Nigel also takes a keen interest in telecommunications heritage for which he maintains an active outreach portfolio, writes academic papers and has co-authored two books, “Thirty years of mobile phones in the UK” and “The British Phonebox”. He is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered IT Professional, a Fellow of the Institution and Engineering and Technology, British Computer Society and the Institute of Telecommunication Professionals.

Location

IET London: Savoy Place

2 Savoy Place
London

WC2R 0BL
United Kingdom

IET London: Savoy Place is committed to having an environmentally responsible event portfolio and work hard to plan and implement events which reflect sustainable event best practices, from working with venues and suppliers that demonstrate best environmental practices to reducing the carbon footprint of each event and therefore our impact on the environment.

Programme

11:30     Arrival for optional lunch 

It is essential to sign in at the Faraday reception desk which is on the second floor for IET building before entering the Faraday Centre

12:00     Optional lunch 

There is a £25 charge for the optional lunch

13:45     Arrival for lecture 

It is essential to sign in separately for attendance at the lecture.

Note: this is required for IET attendance records purposes and is different to the Faraday signing-in procedure.

14:00     The lecture starts promptly

15:00     Questions and discussion

15:30     Optional tea/coffee in the Faraday Centre 

Free for members only.

Register

Registration

Please register to attend

Free of charge (£25 inc VAT for optional lunch)