Rural Mobile Connectivity

Supports Helen Morgan's call for greater transparency from Ofcom regarding the data provided by mobile companies. He highlights the importance of connectivity for small rural businesses and encourages action to ensure more accurate reporting.

Reflects on EE's obligation due to public investment in its network infrastructure. He argues that there is a duty for the company to do more than commercial negotiation with other operators, highlighting the importance of shared responsibility.

Notes similar connectivity issues in his rural constituency and suggests collaboration between councils and the Government through voucher schemes like Project Gigabit to reach hard-to-reach areas. He emphasises the need for practical solutions to improve coverage.

Called on Members to limit their remarks to around five minutes. Emphasised the importance of mobile connectivity for rural communities, citing specific issues in Bradford South such as unreliable mobile access and poor coverage on isolated roads.

Acknowledged progress made through the shared rural network but highlighted significant disparities between urban and rural areas. Noted that 48% of urban masts have 5G deployed compared to just 20% in rural areas. Cited specific examples from Staffordshire, including issues faced by farmers and the village of Church Eaton.

Agreed with Leigh Ingham's speech, citing similar connectivity issues in her constituency such as Edingale, Clifton Campville and Harlaston where 49% of residents could not work from home due to poor mobile connectivity.

Brought up a point of order regarding the Government's delay in publishing guidance on gender-questioning children in schools, suggesting it is an attempt to avoid scrutiny. This intervention was not directly related to the debate topic.

Congratulated Helen Morgan for securing the debate and echoed concerns about mobile connectivity in rural Scotland. Cited specific issues such as poor coverage affecting residents' ability to make phone calls and send texts. Also discussed smart metre connectivity issues and the impact of switching off 2G/3G networks.

Mobile coverage in my constituency is inadequate, with only 57% of the time having a consistent 4G or 5G signal. This situation worsened during Storm Goretti, causing widespread power outages and leaving many disconnected for days or weeks. The storm highlighted the vulnerability of mobile masts without back-up generators and emphasised the need for stronger requirements and powers for communications providers in emergency situations. Ofcom's rules are inadequate, as they require only one hour of battery backup for vulnerable customers, which is insufficient during prolonged outages.

My constituency experiences poor mobile coverage despite Ofcom’s claim that the area has good outdoor coverage. Local business owners in Ely market square, residents trying to install smart metres, and new restaurants cannot operate effectively due to lack of signal. The Government's assessment of coverage is flawed and does not reflect the real needs on the ground. Good mobile connectivity must be considered a basic necessity for accessing emergency services and healthcare, especially for farmers who work in more accident-prone environments. I urge the Minister to overhaul Ofcom’s coverage maps based on reliable reporting systems to ensure genuine two-way communication and improve rural mobile connectivity.

My constituency includes a rural area bordering Scotland and Northumberland, where mobile connectivity is scarce. During winter months, poor weather exacerbates the problem by blocking roads and power lines. The current regulation by Ofcom suggests only four hours of back-up duration for mobile RAN sites and one hour for fixed-line phone battery units, which was insufficient during a five-day power cut in Kershopefoot village. I propose that Ofcom requires mobile networks to maintain a fleet of electricity generators for masts until the grid is repaired. Additionally, I urge the Minister to engage with Mobile UK on planning policy reform and advocate for a competitive spectrum market similar to Blair's 3G auction.

Mobile connectivity is a major issue in my constituency, which includes both rural and urban areas. Constituents report complete lack of service in many areas despite continuous complaints to providers. Businesses face severe disruption due to poor mobile coverage, hindering economic growth and public safety. For instance, during power cuts, people cannot rely on wi-fi calling, endangering lives. I call for the issue to be treated as an essential service akin to water supply.

In rural areas like my constituency of Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, the challenges differ substantially from urban settings. Policy reform is urgently needed; if we can fix it in Cornwall, we can fix it anywhere. On 8 January, a severe storm caused widespread damage to infrastructure, leaving over 120,000 homes without power. While engineers have been exceptional, many constituents still lack basic mobile connectivity. The mobile market review offers a crucial opportunity for change. We need higher service quality and robust measurement so that improvements translate into benefits for customers. Investment in critical minerals and renewables will be hamstrung by poor mobile communications, leaving businesses unable to grow.

Over the past 20 months, rural connectivity has been a constant issue in my inbox. A Vodafone report and Ofcom’s “Connected Nations” report show that rural areas lag behind urban ones in both 5G and 4G access. In Caerfyrddin, two masts have been built through the shared rural network scheme but neither is switched on, highlighting inefficiencies. Broadband access is also lacking; only 22% of farms have reliable mobile signal across their entire farm. During Storm Darragh, networks failed, leaving people unable to reach emergency services. Public money spent on upgrading networks must yield results for communities. Satellite solutions are essential but currently too expensive for many constituents.

Congratulates the hon. Member for North Shropshire on securing the debate, criticises the current state of rural mobile phone connectivity in Britain which is vastly underperforming compared to advertised service levels. Emphasises examples from Worcestershire where coverage can be 900 times worse than claimed. Advocates for transparency and realistic advertising by operators, calls for regulatory weight to focus on geographic coverage rather than just population coverage, supports rural roaming and infrastructure sharing.

Thanks the hon. Member for North Shropshire for securing the debate, presents results from a mobile connectivity survey conducted in her constituency showing poor signal strength and unreliability of calls as well as issues with streaming or downloading files. Highlights the unacceptable reality that more than half of respondents cannot get a usable phone signal at home. Discusses economic and social impacts including digital isolation, safety concerns and disadvantages for remote rural residents.

Congratulates the Member for North Shropshire on securing the debate, highlights the importance of digital connectivity in rural communities. Mentions that issues such as poor mobile phone coverage and internet access are common in his constituency. Provides examples from constituents who face significant problems due to lack of connectivity including a woman with no signal at home, a couple unable to make calls from their village, a farmer worried about emergency communications, and a man who has to drive elsewhere for better signal. Emphasises that 69% of rural areas have only 4G coverage and the UK ranks last in G7 countries for average 5G download speeds. Argues that poor connectivity undermines community viability and economic potential, calling on the Government to prioritise investment in underserved communities.

Rural areas lack adequate mobile internet connectivity, leading to various issues such as emergency call difficulties. The Government's coverage targets are inadequate, focusing on household connections rather than geographical coverage. The Liberal Democrats support a nationwide programme for hyperfast fibre optic broadband with an emphasis on rural areas. Poor connectivity affects productivity and business operations in these regions. Additionally, lack of mobile signal can exacerbate domestic abuse situations by limiting victims' ability to seek help or secure their digital safety.

The previous Conservative Government understood the importance of UK-wide mobile and broadband coverage to the public and economy, putting in place ambitious plans for essential infrastructure. The shared rural network, announced in 2020, secured £500 million investment from mobile network operators with additional government funding for mast construction in underserved areas. By January 2025, 96% of UK landmass had 4G coverage from at least one operator, exceeding the target. Despite progress, challenges remain, such as issues faced by farmers and residents in remote areas, and inconsistencies in commercial mapping data among operators. The speaker also highlighted the need for consistent planning standards across nations and called for accelerated deployment of digital infrastructure through planning rule reform.

Discussed the reality of living in rural areas with poor coverage and its impact on farmers. Emphasised not rushing the switch from 2G/3G to 4G.

Discussed the impact of poor mobile coverage, particularly on farmers and local businesses.

Offered to host a visit from Ofcom to discuss coverage issues in her constituency. Highlighted the importance of accurate data collection for better understanding coverage gaps.

Shared personal experiences with poor mobile connectivity and suggested engaging directly with network providers to address issues.

Presented a mobile survey highlighting the issue of digital isolation and its impact on mental health. Emphasised the need for reliable connectivity in rural areas.

Discussed the impact of poor coverage on online banking services, especially with front counters closing down. Clarified that he does not necessarily have to go upstairs and hang out of a window for reception.

Highlighted the real-world impact of poor mobile coverage on individuals, echoing the importance of reliable connectivity in remote areas.

Thanked the hon. Member for North Shropshire for securing the debate and acknowledged the contributions from other hon. Members who raised issues affecting rural communities, including farmers and agricultural workers. She highlighted the importance of reliable digital connectivity in daily life and business operations and noted the Government's ambition to provide high-quality mobile coverage by 2030. Kanishka mentioned ongoing efforts like the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act and a call for evidence to improve accuracy of reported mobile coverage data, and called for an independent review of the digital connectivity landscape.

Questioned whether there are issues with data provided by telecoms companies and Ofcom, noting that maps produced often show good coverage in constituencies when the reality on the ground is different.

Explained the irony of reporting poor signal by entering a postcode and providing feedback via Ofcom.org.uk, noting that those in rural areas with poor coverage often have to drive around just to give this feedback.

Thanked Members for their contributions and emphasised the importance of addressing deteriorating signal quality in rural areas. She highlighted that high-quality, high-capacity signals are needed beyond just coverage. Mentioned concerns over 5G licences issued without quality parameters and suggested looking into satellite solutions to fill gaps.