Ofcom told to challenge mobile network operators on improving rural 4G

Ofcom has been urged to present a stronger challenge to mobile network operators on improving 4G coverage in the countryside.

In its response to the Ofcom consultation on coverage obligations in the award of the 700 MHz spectrum band, rural organisation the CLA has pointed to the reluctance of mobile operators to deliver coverage in rural areas.

The CLA has therefore asked Ofcom to take a more robust stance to best serve the interests of consumers, many of whom are farmers who receive non-existent connections.

The organisation has called for Ofcom to raise the proposed coverage obligations for the 700 MHz spectrum sale award so they align with the Government ambition for 95% geographic coverage by 2022.

'Rubbish signals'

CLA Deputy President Mark Bridgeman has met with Ofcom to discuss these concerns this week. He said farmers and rural residents are "fed up with rubbish signals and empty promises" from the mobile network providers.

“It limits rural businesses, hampers efforts to work more efficiently, presents a safety concern and keeps communities in a digital dark age,” Mr Bridgeman said.

“It is clear that mobile operators will only invest in rural coverage if they are forced to do so. Ofcom must take a stronger line. They can do this by requiring legally binding targets that will deliver on the Government’s stated ambition of 95% geographic coverage by the end of 2022, and robustly challenge the industry’s constant excuses for not investing in rural areas.”

Mr Bridgeman said Ofcom should make operators accountable to rural residents by requiring them to publish details of existing infrastructure and roll out plans for countryside areas.

“As well as delivering necessary accountability, this measure would lead to far more sharing of masts and significant cost savings for the industry,” he added.

Digital wilderness

Ofcom’s Connected Nations report in December 2017 revealed that while people inside 90% of UK premises can now make telephone calls on all four mobile networks, this falls to 57% in rural areas.

A CLA report in March 2018 based on FOI responses found that mobile network operators have not been putting in planning applications for new masts in some of the rural areas with the poorest mobile coverage.

As an example in Rutland, which has the worst 4G coverage of any local authority area in England and Wales at 3.42% 4G coverage from all operators, not one application for a new mast was put forward in 2015, 2016 or 2017.