21 Aug 2018
Four in five homes in 14 rural areas unable to access 4G mobile coverage
Ofcom has been called on to impose a legally binding coverage target for 2022.
Lauren Dean
The CLA demanded action after four in five homes in 14 rural local authority areas could not receive the coverage through EE, O2, Vodafone and Three.
After legal target legislation cut off at the end of 2017, the association called for the ‘big four’ main providers to deliver 4G coverage to 95 per cent of the UK geographic landmass on all networks by 2022.
CLA president Tim Breitmeyer questioned the commitment of mobile operators to deliver coverage in rural areas.
He said: “These figures lay bare the extent to which those living and working in rural areas are cast out into the digital wilderness.
“People living and working in rural areas are missing out on the opportunities that we take for granted in towns and cities to improve the productivity of their business, to attract new businesses into their communities, to make emergency calls, and to have the same instant access to social and educational resources.”
Rutland led the way for poorest coverage at just 3.42 per cent, with Ribble Valley at 6.37 per cent and Maidon at 8.63 per cent.
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The 10 local authority areas with the lowest rates of indoor 4G were all branded the most rural Government classification of ‘mainly rural’, all with less than 15 per cent coverage.
Inequality
Mr Breitmeyer slammed the networks for their inequality and fall down on previous promises to improve rural coverage.
“They have extracted public money, sweeping changes in the law and a range of other concessions on the back of these promises,” he added.
“They are not being held to account when they do not deliver. It is time to impose a legally binding target to cover 95 per cent of the UK with 4G by 2022.”
Worst local authority areas in England for indoor 4G coverage from all providers:
1 - Rutland: 3.42 per cent
2 - Ribble Valley: 6.37 per cent
3 - Maldon: 8.63 per cent
4 - South Norfolk: 10.64 per cent
5 - Breckland: 11.22 per cent
6 - Melton: 13.76 per cent
7 - Copeland: 14.13 per cent
8 - North Norfolk: 14.18 per cent
9 - North Dorset: 14.24 per cent
10 - Mid Devon: 14.25 per cent
11 - Richmondshire: 14.86 per cent
12 - Barrow-in-Furness: 15.79 per cent (classified as ‘urban with significant rural’)
13 - Staffordshire: 16.14 per cent
14 - Eden: 17.87 per cent
15 - North Devon: 19.11 per cent
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