Group policy and guidelines
Our Group Responsible Network Deployment Policy sets consistent standards for all operating companies in six key areas – legal compliance, environmental impact, radio frequency emissions, site planning and selection, communication and consultation, and landlord relationships. The policy is included in our new Governance Manual, published in 2008. We have also developed guidelines to help operating companies implement responsible network deployment and adapt the Group policy to local needs.
We train network deployment employees and those who deal with the general public about the policy and guidelines. Compliance with the policy is assessed by our Group Network and Corporate Responsibility teams. We also monitor public perceptions through consumer research and track the number of jurisdictional objections to base station applications. See our performance in 2007/08.
We require operating companies to develop action plans to improve their performance on responsible network deployment and establish leading practices.
Contractor compliance
Our local operating companies employ contractors to carry out much of the work involved in network rollout, ranging from the planning and acquisition of sites to construction and maintenance of base stations.
The Group Responsible Network Deployment Policy and guidelines apply to contractors as well as employees. We provide handbooks on the policy and our operating companies run workshops for contractors to reinforce the guidelines. We assess contractors to monitor how well they implement our Responsible Network Deployment Policy and guidelines through site audits across the Group. It is our aim to certify that all new contractors understand our policy and guidelines before they undertake work for Vodafone.
- See a case study on outsourcing network management in the Netherlands.
We continue to include network equipment managed by contractors in our energy use calculations as part of our carbon reduction strategy. See Energy use and climate change.
Local codes of conduct
The approach we take to implementing the Group Responsible Network Deployment Policy varies from country to country, to reflect local regulations and cultural differences in what is considered suitable. For example, in some countries people prefer bespoke designs that disguise the base station, while in others people prefer standard designs.
In many countries where we operate we have signed up to recognised codes of conduct for responsible network deployment, in partnership with other service providers, local authorities, governments and consumer associations.