Pledge welcomed on better mobile phone signal for Shropshire

The phone company EE says that 92 per cent of the UK will receive 4G by the end of 2017. It has embarked on a major investment of its mobile infrastructure.

North Shropshire MP, Owen Paterson, who is campaigning for better phone and broadband signals, brought BT Openreach boss, Clive Selley, and EE representatives to the county earlier this year to see the problems for himself. Mr Selley pledged to try to find solutions to improve connectivity in rural locations.

Last week the MP met with Tim O’Sullivan, Director of Public Affairs for BT, who accompanied Mr Selley to north Shropshire, and Alex Jackman, Public Affairs Manager for EE.

"I was assured that 92 per cent of the UK will receive 4G this year, with improvements to the mobile infrastructure along our main road corridors." Mr Paterson said.

"This is good news and an alternative way that people can access the internet, rather than having to wait for decent broadband access."

Councillor David Minnery, who represents Market Drayton said it was welcome news and would give hope to rural businesses.

The mayor of Market Drayton is also a cabinet member on Shropshire council and spends a lot of time travelling from his home town to Shrewsbury.

"I have had hands-free in my car for about 20 years and the situation is getting worse, not better," he said.

"The signal is absolutely dire between Shrewsbury and Market Drayton, even on the A53. In the town there are areas where the signal is terrible. I know some people who have to drive to somewhere they know has a good signal and park up just to send an email."

Councillor Minnery said it was important that the roll-out of faster broadband continued but said that a good 4G signal would help.

"Businesses these days depend on the internet and we in Shropshire depend on small businesses to underpin the economy. If rural businesses are to succeed they have to have access to the internet whether that is broadband or a secure 4G system.

"Tethering onto a mobile signal does work as long as that signal is reliable. It is a good step forward."

Mr Selley admitted his surprise at the lack of broadband and mobile signal in the countryside when he visited north Shropshire in February.

He was invited to the county by MP Owen Paterson, who said broadband problems were preventing many parts of Shropshire being able to compete in business with the rest of Britain.

He said that as farms are increasingly diversifying and more and more businesses are run from home lack of access to the internet was stifling growth.