NTL sells British masts network to Australian group

CABLE company NTL is to sell its network of communication masts and towers after agreeing a deal worth €1.84 billion, it was announced yesterday.

A consortium led by Australia’s Macquarie Group will pick up NTL’s broadcast business, which features about 2,300 sites - including Britain’s tallest free-standing structure at Emley Moor in West Yorkshire.

The division enables more than 22m British homes to receive commercial television, while mobile phone operators and public services such as fire and ambulance are also major users of the sites.