A local AM has welcomed the Conservative-led UK Government’s plans to oblige mobile operators to improve their coverage through mandatory mobile roaming.
Mobile notspots still affect a significant number of people in rural Mid Wales leaving people unable to make calls or send texts.
The proposals intend to allow phones to search for another network when their own network is unavailable and compel mobile operators to share their masts.
As Chair of the National Assembly’s Cross Party Group on Digital Communications, Russell George, Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire, has long campaigned for mandatory roaming and the shared use of mobile infrastructure.
Responding to the Culture Secretary’s welcome announcement, Mr George said:
“The announcement that the UK Government is taking firm action to solve mobile notspots will make a significant difference to people living and working in rural areas of Mid Wales.
“It can’t be right that someone from France with a French SIM, working or holidaying in Wales, has the ability to roam between service operators ensuring unbroken connectivity, when someone resident here does not.
“Mandatory roaming and compulsory sharing of mobile infrastructure are the two most practical solutions and I’m therefore delighted that the UK Government is taking this issue seriously.
“However, I will also be looking to Ofcom and Government to provide their view on what more they can do to further improve “on-the-move” mobile coverage and remove the other barriers which are preventing the development of mobile infrastructure in rural areas such as reform of the Code which enables providers to construct infrastructure on public or private land - the Electronic Communications Code.”