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Warning, no mobile coverage ahead!
RAC Foundation has published a report this week that highlights that almost 4,600 miles of British roads have absolutely no mobile coverage from any of the network providers.
Being left with no way to get in touch with breakdown or emergency services is not something that any of us would want.
While Scotland's roads are the worst affected by these mobile not-spots, Wales and even England are also affected. For example, over 200 miles of roads in Devon and another 100 in Cornwall, both popular tourist attractions, seem to have absolutely no connectivity from any mobile network.
The 3G and 4G coverage is comparatively much poorer than 2G and has a long way to go before it's available contiguously across the British roads. It should be highlighted that to make a phone call, 2G or 3G coverage is a must. Most 4G mobiles rely on 2G/3G networks for voice calls hence just 4G coverage by itself won't solve breakdown and emergency call issues.
Commenting on this report, Raj Sivalingam, Executive Director, Telecoms and UK Spectrum Policy Forum, techUK said, "No one can argue that this is a desirable situation but it is important that we don't simply point the finger at mobile operators. It is a far more complex situation. Mobile operators are businesses and therefore rely on a business case with expectations of reasonable returns before they can make the substantial investments needed to extend coverage. In many of these areas where the business case does not exist, there is an important role for Government at central and local levels and their agencies to enhance investment incentives by reducing the regulatory burden and costs.
One possible way is to allow taller masts, in line with the norm in continental Europe, which in turn will improve coverage. Another possible consideration is whether public voice and text services could be facilitated in these areas on the back of the Government's Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme, which is aimed at introducing LTE technology for use by emergency services."
