Mobile phone coverage in the spotlight at high-level meeting in Shropshire
Shropshire Council’s Deputy Leader Steve Charmley hosted a meeting today (Friday 15 January 2016) with Ofcom and the mobile network operators to highlight the need to improve mobile phone signal coverage in the county.
The meeting was a follow-up to a briefing held in June 2015 to hear about progress. Three of the four Shropshire MPs attended the meeting, along with Shropshire Councillors and senior council officers. The 90-minute session heard from Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, BT and representatives from mobile operators EE, O2, Three & Vodafone.
Ofcom provided data on the signal coverage from the four operators, which showed that EE has the best 4G coverage of the county. Ofcom also mentioned that O2 has a coverage obligation that requires them to provide 98% of the population with access to an indoor 4G service by the end of December 2017 (this is a national obligation).
A representative from each of the mobile operators provided an update on their plans for improving mobile coverage in Shropshire in the next two years.
Steve Charmley said:
“The meeting was very focussed on finding ways to improve the situation for those who visit, live and work in Shropshire. Shropshire Councillors and local MPs forcefully made the case for improved mobile coverage in the county, as many tourism and small businesses are struggling to survive with poor mobile connectivity.
“There was a common agreement amongst those in the audience that things are going from bad to worse, and we need to work with the industry and the regulator to address the issues that are hampering improvements as quickly and efficiently as possible. Shropshire Council will continue to act as a conduit between all parties to make sure this happens.”
Owen Paterson, MP for North Shropshire, said:-
“My constituents are regularly in touch complaining about deteriorating mobile signal. The removal of masts and increase in data usage means that the system is getting worse, let alone improving. I’ve offered to get round the table with the mobile operators, planning officers, regulators and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport to get this issue sorted out as soon as possible.”
Shropshire Council will host another follow up session with the mobile operators in April.
