Rural business anger at inadequate mobile coverage deal
Rural businesses have slammed proposals to deliver mobile phone coverage to 90 percent of the country by 2017.
Rural businesses have slammed proposals to deliver mobile phone coverage to 90 percent of the country by 2017. The commitment has been agreed by the four major mobile phone providers with Culture Secretary Sajid Javid but will still leave swathes of the British countryside without mobile phone connection.
The CLA, which represents landowners, farmers and other rural businesses, is campaigning for affordable universal mobile coverage across rural communities.
CLA President Henry Robinson said: “This announcement contains big numbers and strong words but in reality it perpetuates the status quo and will leave thousands of homes and businesses with the prospect of poor or no mobile phone coverage for years to come.
“It is deeply disappointing that the Government has not pushed the providers to come up with more radical solutions. We are keen to know whether this agreement ends the prospect of a national roaming network that we know is hated by the mobile phone providers, but in our view has the potential to provide choice and access in rural communities.
“We will continue to fight for a mobile phone network that provides accessible and affordable mobile coverage across the whole of the UK.”
