On 13th May 2019 a unique commercial agreement was reached that could increase safety and certainly boost the rural coverage of our national mobile telephone and data network.The agreement which includes the formation of a new joint company to erect
and manage rural telephone masts will allow a joint use of 2G, 3G, 4G and the
forthcoming 5G networks whilst facilitating the much needed Rural Roaming required in areas where coverage has slipped due to perceived low commercial use. The agreement simply requires consent from OFCOM who can resolve any issues regarding the investment shares for new infrastructure as BT/EE have voiced concerns about improving other companies reputations and coverage at their expense.
forthcoming 5G networks whilst facilitating the much needed Rural Roaming required in areas where coverage has slipped due to perceived low commercial use. The agreement simply requires consent from OFCOM who can resolve any issues regarding the investment shares for new infrastructure as BT/EE have voiced concerns about improving other companies reputations and coverage at their expense.
The Borderlands combined authority made up of Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Northumberland County Council and Scottish Borders Council to promote economic growth and competitiveness of an area that straddles the Scotland-England border have been offered huge sums of money from Government to improve communication links across the rural areas they cover, which makes up 10% of the geographical mass of the United Kingdom.
This week, North Yorkshire County Council and representatives from their second tier district councils spoke to the EU regarding Rural Roaming. Explaining
that they had identified sites for new masts that would increase safeguarding
for the public through better communications and talked about the fact that
visitors from the EU had access to roaming under the European roaming
regulations and could pick up signals across networks while residents of rural
areas in North Yorkshire sit without the ability to make the most basic
calls from their well quoted rural ‘blackspots’.
We have spoken with Labour in Northumberland who have been promoting greater rural
network coverage since 2009 and have been extremely keen on aiding the
resolution of problems that would allow rural roaming to flourish.
resolution of problems that would allow rural roaming to flourish.
Labour representatives are very keen on an alternative proposal put forward by the industry itself which may allow operators to share masts / mast space more
easily (reciprocal sharing) in order to install new radio kit so as to improve rural coverage. The idea of mutually beneficial infrastructure could, if priced and regulated fairly, prove to be useful over the longer-term. Indeed it may even result in fewer masts being needed to cover the same area
(i.e. saving operators money).
Most of this would be overseen by a new company, which will be responsible for managing the build of new masts and supplying them with the necessary power and fibre optic data capacity links. The agreed proposal would see Ofcom acting as the referee for the legally-binding measures, so as to ensure fairness.
(i.e. saving operators money).
Most of this would be overseen by a new company, which will be responsible for managing the build of new masts and supplying them with the necessary power and fibre optic data capacity links. The agreed proposal would see Ofcom acting as the referee for the legally-binding measures, so as to ensure fairness.
Northumberland Labour said to us, “ between the Borderlands and North Yorkshire 12.5% of the whole of the U.K. makes for a very strong lobby group and urge the Councils involved to ensure they bring their MP’s on board to assist the improvements in communication needed to support and increase rural business in a world dominated by e-trade ensuring that the safety of residents and U.K. based visitors is covered in the bargain”.
