The Tynes Bay incinerator is to become a hub of telecommunications.

Planning officials have given the go-ahead for seven wireless antennae on the incinerator stack for North Rock Communications.

Digicel Bermuda has now also applied to install three cellular antennae on the roof stack.

North Rock says its antennae are needed to upgrade and expand its wireless network. The company told the Department of Planning: "In order to do this we have a requirement to find new sites to locate our wireless base station equipment so that we can adequately cover all areas of the Island."

Digicel meanwhile, says its new antennae are needed to provide better cellular coverage for residents in Pembroke and Devonshire.

"The residents of North Shore Road in Pembroke and staff at the Tynes Bay Incinerator facility experience degradation in signal strength from Digicel's nearest cell site at Prospect and Eves Hill," Digicel said.

"The reduced cellular reception is mainly due to fast fading and terrain topography."

The new antennae will increase coverage to the Barkers Hill area, and to Prospect and Middle Road, in Devonshire, as well as Spanish Point in Pembroke.

In the Planning file, Digicel says the facility is also needed for its 3G networks.

"This solution takes into consideration Digicel's 3G networks to be launched soon, and at best, staff of the Tynes Bay incinerator would have advanced from no coverage to full bars on a new 3G network," said Digicel.

In a letter to Planning, agents Compu-Cad Training and Services Ltd. said: "The presence of existing telecommunications equipment makes this location ideal to allow for the erection of these cellular antennas, as it has already been established as a location for these types of antennas.

"The location is also very discrete and not visible by the public at all."