Johnson promises fast-tracked mobile signal plans

The Prime Minister has announced bold new plans that will be fast tracked in the first 100 days of a Conservative majority government to improve poor mobile phone signal in rural areas.

Only 66 per cent of the UK landmass currently  has geographic coverage for customers of all four network operators, which will rise to 95 per cent or more under Conservative plans. The party has promised, that within the first 100 days of the new government, it will finalise a £1 billion agreement with mobile phone operators to pool existing phone masts, and build new ones, bringing dramatically improved mobile service to the countryside.

Under the banner of a ‘Shared Rural Network’, Boris Johnson announced that new masts will be built and existing infrastructure shared between the four mobile phone providers – 02, Three, Vodafone and EE. This would ensure 4G service, for all customers, regardless of their provider, across almost all of the UK, virtually eradicating the not-spots that exist in some rural areas – where ‘No Service’ plagues mobile phones.

The agreement would mean consumers will be able to connect to 4G coverage, wherever they live, travel or work - regardless of their network provider. This transformative fund will see additional coverage to 280,000 homes and businesses and 16,000km of roads. It will significantly improve life for the 9.3 million people living in the countryside.

Johnson said: “Mobile phones are revolutionising our day-to-day lives and are crucial for businesses as they compete and grow. We are determined to make sure that no part of the country is left behind when it comes to mobile connections. If a Conservative majority government is elected, in our first 100 days we will fast track agreements for mast sharing between networks, alongside new investment in mobile infrastructure to tackle rural not-spots by 2025 and make poor mobile signal a thing of the past.”