Business chief slams "shocking" north mobile phone coverage
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MOBILE coverage in the Highlands has been described as "downright shocking" by the head of the area’s small business organisation.
The attack by Amanda Frazer, chair of the Federation of Small Businesses’ Highlands and Islands Regional Committee, followed the completion of phase one of Ofcom’s digital communications review.
"We need confident, outward looking businesses in the Highlands and overcoming the serious barriers associated with remoteness is essential if they are to trade successfully, nationally and internationally," she said.
"Take mobile coverage. Communicating via mobile devises has become part and parcel of daily life and it is a vital tool for anyone conducting business.
"We all know that coverage is far from ideal in the Highlands, but to read that in 2014, 34% of this region lacked 2G signal, 65% 3G, and over 99% 4G, is downright shocking. Ofcom is absolutely right to look at how the digital market operates and how it can be improved for small businesses.
"We recognise that the UK Government’s deal with mobile operators should deliver enhanced coverage, but it isn’t clear to us when individual communities should see improvements.
"Ahead of 2016’s Scottish Parliament elections, decision-makers – including mobile operators, government officials, regulators and politicians – must develop a plan to tackle this important issue.
"Do we need to tweak the country’s planning laws or should we strike a deal to make it easier to use Scottish public sector buildings to deliver coverage? Could we develop more community-led solutions like the recent project on the Isle of Coll? Getting to grips with this problem is a national priority and we must not delay"
