Norfolk MP calls for further improvements on rural mobile coverage & connectivity
Official figures show that the geographic coverage of 4G has increased to nearly 80% since Spring 2020
A Norfolk MP is urging the Government to continue funding efforts to improve mobile coverage and connectivity, across rural areas.
The Shared Rural Network, which was created in March 2020 and had over a billion pounds put into it, has increased 4G coverage across the UK to 78%, according to official figures.
"It has to change"
Jerome Mayhew is MP for Broadland and Fakenham:
"It really does hold back our rural economy, and if you live in somewhere like Brundall it's basically impossible to have a conversation via phone call. It has to change.
"I used to run a business in Norfolk and it used to drive us nuts that we couldn't have business conversations as you were driving around. It got to the point where I had to spend tens of thousands of pounds to get my head office connected to the internet.
"'We have got a billion pounds to tackle this problem and I want that to continue. I don't want the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves to think that the rural economy doesn't really matter".
What is the 'The Shared Rural Network':
It's a Government-led scheme designed to improve mobile coverage and boost connectivity across the UK.
It is joint funded by the Government and the UK’s four mobile network operators (EE, Three, VMO2 and Vodafone), aims to deliver 4G coverage to 95% of the UK by December 2025.
The programme promises to also improve coverage for an additional 280,000 properties and 16,000 kilometres of roads.
Their latest 'Progress Report':
-4G coverage from at least one operator has increased from 91% at the start of the SRN programme to 94.9% according to Ofcom coverage reporting.
-Between March 2020, when the SRN started, and April 2024, over 4,000 square kilometres, equivalent in size to the Cairngorms National Park, have received 4G coverage for the first time.
-In addition, 15,000 square kilometres across the UK – almost the size of Northern Ireland, went from having partial coverage to getting coverage from all four mobile network operators.
What's the Government said on this?
The Government says their fiscal plans will be laid out in full- through the autumn budget, next month.