People in rural Wales will enjoy huge improvements in their mobile coverage thanks to the UK government’s world-first £1 billion mobile connectivity programme. Welcoming the announcement, the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has underlined that she is working to secure clarity over when local not-spots will be addressed.
The Shared Rural Network was agreed with the country’s biggest mobile network operators and will see firms sharing their masts to boost people’s mobile signals. Wales will see the next highest increases - with coverage from all four operators across its geographic areas increasing by more than one third, from 60% to 80%. Over recent months, Janet has been liaising with the officials at British Telecom and the UK Government, securing clarity that they will add two new 4G sites to the West of Ysbyty Ifan.
Commenting on the SRN, Janet said:
“Today’s mobile coverage commitment, to provide a reliable 4G mobile signal to many of our rural communities, will improve the lives of hundreds of residents across the constituency of Aberconwy, securing the connections they need to work and keep in touch with those we love.
“Once again, this investment underlines the strength of collaboration. With the UK Government and mobile network operators working to close out not spots, this a bold and positive trend that I will be pushing the Welsh Government to replicate in their own digital connectivity work.
“As many residents are aware, the issue of not-spots has been a concern that I have campaigned on for years. Most recently, I was pleased to secure clarity that two new 4G sites will be added to the West of Ysbyty Ifan. Now, I’ll be petitioning for clarity on timeframes for implementation.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- The SRN, brokered by ministers in March last year, will see EE, O2, Three and Vodafone share a network of new and existing phone masts. It will bring an extra 280,000 premises and an additional 16,000 km of UK roads in range of a 4G signal - increasing total geographic 4G coverage to 95 per cent of the UK by the end of 2025.
- Similarly, under the Home Office’s Extended Services (EAS) programme, there are four sites in the constituency of Aberconwy, including masts that believed capable of serving Ysbyty Ifan and the surrounding area.
- A map of the projected 4G improvements is attached.
Photo: SRN Map from UK Government's Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
