earthing in telecoms

There are industry customs / recommendations and country specific code requirements. But that is just basic requirements, which do not go to the heart of the matter. If, for example your tower is atop a mountain ridge or a very tall building, the likelihood of a direct or very nearby lightning strike is up by magnitudes. It does not help, if you did code, but the equipment is fried every other week.

If, for example the coax to the antenna is well bonded, and potential equalization along the way to the transceiver is provided, then the likelihood of the electronics survival is greatly enhanced. But I have not met any electronic equipment able to survive a direct hit or a side filament either. The rest is statistics and you playing the odds.

Wait a minute! The original query was for a MOBILE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS MAST. Does that not imply a mast on a mobile platform like a truck? If that is the case, the vehicle is sitting on rubber insulators. Does the electrical code even require driving a ground rod? What does the city roads department have to say about people driving steel rods through their pavement?

And if the vehicle is truly in motion mobile isn't it a moot point?

Dear elnav !

There are 2 things in communication Mast:

1. Earthing of the Structure &

2. Providing "Earth" or "Virtual Earth" to complete the Antenna-System. This is known as "Counter-piose".

It is provided by the body of Vehicle or Aeroplane;

and in Masts-Antenna with Verticle ROD a "Counter-piose" is provided by a set of such rods inclining downwards; normally 3 such combination of rods at 120 deg connected to the "Earth"

@ ground.

Regards