Re: First Step. Just stop operators charging consumers for 2G.
"The only way networks will be improved if it hits actual network operators in the pocket, not their customers."
ITYM in the shareholders' and directors' pockets.
The problem at the moment is that fines are simply factored in as a cost of doing business.
Fines should be targetted against the people responsible for these decisions and levied against the operating profits/dividends.
The problem at the moment is that the UK mobile legal structure as laid down by Ofcom prohibits networks from pooling resources, which results in substantial unnecessary overbuilding.
The simple solution for NIMBYism on towers (more frequently - poles) is to make it very clear that those objecting are shooting themselves in the foot for coverage. Responding to every signatory on those petitions about shitty coverage with "We attempted to put up a tower in order to fix this and objections from this list of people killed it" will make the issue self-limiting.
Yes, the mobile companies have power of planning appeal but the more recent planning rules which were supposed to free things up have actually had the opposite effect in many areas and made it MUCH harder/far more expensive to appeal, with no guarantee of being awarded court costs, let alone the entire bill for taking it to court.