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Angus MacNeil MP: “Mobile coverage will improve greatly”

March 2, 2015

wifi icon. 3d illustration

Poor mobile reception is a common complaint in the islands.

Following a series of questions from Na h-Eileanan an Iar MP, Angus MacNeil, on mobile and 4G mobile coverage, the UK Minister Edward Vaizey responded that under the 4G mobile coverage improvement agreement announced on December 2014, the Scottish islands will see one of the greatest improvements in the UK. According to the minister’s response, under this agreement, partial not-spots will be halved and not-spots will be cut by two-thirds.

Angus MacNeil MP said:  “I have maintained pressure on the UK Government on the issue of the badly needed 4G coverage in the Western Isles. I am anxious to see these important improvements and to do so sooner rather than later, particularly as 2G and 3G coverage in the Western Isles has failed miserably.

“The SNP Government is in the process of having high speed broadband cable installed which is an important component of better mobile coverage as it provides what is called ‘backhaul’ support to wireless mobile, in addition to providing homes and businesses with high speed broadband over the next two years.

Angus MacNeil MP.

Angus MacNeil MP.

“I am glad that pressure and continual work on mobile coverage has led to this situation where the failings are appearing to be understood in Westminster.  I will of course keep pressing this issue to ensure that there will be delivery and that we have a mobile service in the islands as good as other similar places in northern Europe and the mainland.

“Mobile telephones are no longer a luxury, but are a social economic and sometimes even a health service utility.  It is high time that the UK Government fulfils its responsibilities to the islands as in the past we have been left behind badly by their approach to mobile coverage.”

Filed Under: News, Technology Tagged With: 4G, Angus MacNeil MP, Coverage, Mobile

Balivanich, Lochboisdale, Lochmaddy and Tarbert shortlisted to receive 3G mobile coverage

January 23, 2015

wifi icon. 3d illustration

·   Balivanich, Lochboisdale, Lochmaddy, Tarbert, named as four of 100 rural communities across the UK shortlisted for the Vodafone Rural Open Sure Signal programme

·   Community-led initiative with Vodafone brings much needed mobile coverage to help boost rural economy

·   Vodafone spending more than £1 billion on its UK network and services

Vodafone UK has announced the beautiful rural communities of Balivanich, Lochboisdale, Lochmaddy and Tarbert in the Outer Hebrides are four of the 100 rural mobile not-spot communities shortlisted to receive 3G coverage under its Rural Open Sure Signal programme.

The communities have until now suffered from unreliable mobile coverage and slow network speeds. With the installation of Vodafone’s innovative Sure Signal technology, the local communities will benefit from high quality 3G voice services, and much needed access to the internet via mobile devices, contributing positively to business and everyday life.

The names of the latest communities shortlisted to join the Rural Open Sure Signal 100 programme have been announced. The list includes communities from across the UK including Trevose (Cornwall), Benacre (Suffolk), Sandness (Shetlands) and Silchester (Hampshire). Vodafone will now start working with the Village Champions on a full assessment of the application made to take part in this community-led initiative, with the service expected to go live this year.

The Rural Open Sure Signal 100 programme is a national initiative by Vodafone UK to provide reliable mobile access to up to 100 rural communities in mobile not-spot locations. Launched in July 2014, with support from local MPs, councils and rural action groups, the programme has received an overwhelming response from around the country. Applications have come from island communities in rural Shetlands to rural communities in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, picturesque villages on the south west coastline as well as along the east coast in Norfolk.

Mobile connectivity plays a vital role in keeping communities in touch and helps support local economies. However, rural and remote locations often miss out on advantages provided by modern communication tools, due to the complexity of delivering network coverage. This can be because of the geography of the area or difficulties with planning permissions in places of outstanding natural beauty. The Rural Open Sure Signal programme uses innovative ‘femtocell’ technology to provide an alternative solution to bring mobile access in locations where it isn’t possible for networks to provide coverage through traditional means.

Isles MP Angus MacNeil, who supported this programme locally and urged local communities to apply said:

“This is certainly a welcomed initiative from Vodafone, which has the potential to improve mobile telephone coverage to 3G standard for many not-spots in rural and island areas.

“I am hopeful that in the next round of applications, other places in the islands will apply and be successful.

“I was pleased to attend Vodafone’s reception yesterday at Westminster, with Anne MacLellan from Lochboisdale.”

Jeroen Hoencamp, Vodafone UK Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted Balivanich, Lochboisdale, Lochmaddy and Tarbert have been shortlisted as four of our 100 ROSS communities and I’m excited about the transformation this pioneering programme could bring to these communities. The communities who have worked with us to introduce Open Sure Signal have all told us how life has improved markedly, from the ability to make an appointment at the local doctor to telling their families they are running late for lunch.  We are committed to investing hugely in our network and using innovative technologies such as Sure Signal to provide coverage to rural communities means we can reach areas where it’s been impossible to reach using traditional means.”

Vodafone’s Rural Open Sure Signal programme has now seen the connection of 13 rural communities across the UK. Communities connected so far have been enjoying social media using mobile internet whilst businesses, from GPs to pubs to a mussel farmer in the Shetlands, now have mobile signal to help make their businesses work better.

As well as using Rural Open Sure Signal to plug rural “not-spots”, Vodafone is spending more than £1 billion on its network and services across the country, including extending its 4G coverage to 395 cities and towns and thousands of smaller communities across the UK.

Filed Under: News, Technology Tagged With: 3G, Angus MacNeil MP, Balivanich, Lochboisdale, Lochmaddy, Mobile, Tarbert, Vodafone

Vodafone responds to complaints about loss of service

January 16, 2015

wifi icon. 3d illustration

Vodafone has responded to complaints from island customers, many of whom have been without reception since the onset of severe weather conditions a week ago.

Many readers have contacted Am Pàipear this week – including several from as far away as Lewis, Skye and Lochgilphead – describing the loss of signal.

Today, Vodafone has said that due to the continuing “challenging” weather conditions, it is not yet clear when full service will be restored.

A spokesman for the company commented: “We are aware that due to the extreme weather conditions across the Highlands and Islands, some of our customers are suffering from limited mobile coverage.

“Our engineers have this as their highest priority and are working hard to restore full service.

“However, the weather conditions remain extremely challenging with snow and high winds, which make it unsafe for them to climb masts, hampering our engineers’ efforts to restore services at affected sites.

“We’d like to apologise to any customers affected for any inconvenience and will update customers on improvements as soon as we can.”

Complaints were also received about loss of service experienced by customers of other networks, as well as individuals who have had no landline connection for several days.

Am Pàipear is awaiting responses from those other companies.

More to follow…

Filed Under: News, Technology, Weather Tagged With: Mobile, Signal, Vodafone, Weather

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