Slow rollout of mobile coverage is dangeous and discriminatory'

PEOPLE living in rural "not spots" feel they are being left behind due to the slow rollout of vital mobile phone coverage, campaigners and politicians claim.

- Sam Stevenson

Residents of all ages are cut off from the digital world in what campaigners have branded a "discriminatory and dangerous" outrage.

And for some, the situation is so dire it is "putting lives at risk".

The Shared Rural Network (SRN) project aims to extend 4G mobile coverage to 95% of the UK by the end of next year.

But sluggish delivery and delays in rolling out the scheme, signed in 2020 by the Government and the UK's four mobile network operators - Vodafone, Three UK, EE, and 02 has prompted a backlash among the people of rural Britain and those who represent them.

It comes as mobile phone giants Three and Vodafone, who are planning a UK merger, splurge millions on flashy sponsorship deals with celebrities and sports teams.

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, told the Daily Express: "Residents of rural areas are forced to put up with a second-class signal and second-class services. People in Birmingham and London wouldn't put up with coverage like this, so why should Shropshire? "Some villages and parts of our market towns have no connection at all on most providers - this is not just unfair but also dangerous when combined with the phasing out of copper wire landlines.

"This is a real economic problem for farmers and agricultural businesses who run hi-tech operations that need to communicate over hundreds or thousands of acres.

"It's time we banished black spots and make telecoms firms work together to make sure the whole country can get connected." The SRN is funded by £500million from the taxpayer, while the mobile operators pay £532million between the four of them. If split evenly, that would work out at roughly £133million each.