Crabb Sponsors Bill to Tackle Mobile Blackspots

: Where 67.6% of the UK has coverage from at least four 3G operators, the figure drops dramatically to 32.3 per cent in Wales.; Image by: MyPembrokeshire.com

ORR

May 03, 2008

Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb has co-sponsored a Bill to tackle mobile phone blackspots, which in some rural areas are worse than in India and Malawi.

Brought before Parliament by Tunbridge Wells MP and Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, Greg Clark, the 'Right to Roam (Mobile Phones) Bill' will promote the use of network sharing to ensure that mobile users get the very best signal on their phones wherever they are in the country.

The introduction of network sharing could also address continuing health concerns by reducing the number of mobile phone masts, particularly where masts are positioned near schools.

Stephen teamed up with Mr. Clark to promote this Bill after receiving emails and letters from constituents frustrated by patchy mobile coverage in rural parts of Pembrokeshire.

The MPs’ move comes only weeks after Ofcom (the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries) launched an investigation into the quality of mobile phone coverage in Wales after complaints over the claim that 99.8 per cent of Wales has mobile phone coverage.

A series of recent statistics confirm that mobile phone users in Wales get a poorer deal than those in England

In terms of 3G coverage (where mobile phone users are able to browse the internet and send multimedia messages from their phones including videos) Wales is at a considerable disadvantage to the UK as a whole.

Where 67.6% of the UK has coverage from at least four 3G operators, the figure drops dramatically to 32.3 per cent in Wales.

Stephen said: “I am delighted to be co-sponsoring this Bill to help get mobile users in Pembrokeshire connected.

“I know from experience that when you travel around Pembrokeshire there can be real difficulties with the mobile phone reception.

: "I know from experience that when you travel around Pembrokeshire there can be real difficulties with the mobile phone reception," said Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb.

“For too long, mobile coverage has been another example of rural communities in Pembrokeshire suffering when it comes to the provision of new technology. Mobile phones provide a vital lifeline for business and pleasure in rural Pembrokeshire.

“The aim of this Bill is to provide the very best possible coverage to mobile phone users whatever their network.

“This is not rocket science. Roaming is already commonplace in Europe and beyond. In the UK, roaming would work in exactly the same way as it does abroad. Your mobile phone would pick up the strongest network signal and use this for your telephone call.

“Each of the networks has the best coverage in some places, and each of them has the worst coverage in other places. This is a common-sense Bill that will greatly improve service for customers and sharpen competition within the mobile phone industry.

“I hope the Bill gets the support of Government and progresses into law.”

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