Helen Morgan leads debate on new ‘Signal Sharing’ law

Helen Morgan has led a Parliamentary debate on her proposals to change the law regarding mobile signal in rural and remote areas.

It comes ahead of the Second Reading of her Access to Telecommunications Networks Bill in the House of Commons later today.

The Bill would make it a legal requirement for telecoms firms like BT, EE and 02 to work together and offer signal in areas – largely rural – where there is none. Currently, this is in place for emergency calls and texts, and could be rolled out further at minimal cost to providers.

This would be of particular benefit to rural residents whose homes are not covered by their provider, and farming and agricultural businesses trying to communicate over hundreds or thousands of acres.

Just 31% per cent of premises in rural North Shropshire have 4G phone coverage from all four network operators and seven per cent have no signal from any network. Across England just 50 per cent of rural premises have 4G data from all operators, compared to 92 per cent of premises in urban areas.

The MP has already petitioned residents of North Shropshire on the topic, with around 900 signatories at the time of writing. She has also questioned Ministers on the accuracy of data over ‘not-spots’ for mobile signal.

The Westminster Hall debate was well-attended and had speakers from each of the main parties urging further action on improving rural mobile signal. It comes after repeated delays to the rollout of the Shared Rural Network, under which mobile operators and the Government are investing in improving coverage in total and partial ‘not-spot’ areas.

If the Shared Rural Network does not lead to improved coverage quickly, Helen wants to see Rural Roaming introduced whereby users will be able to switch between networks in areas where they can’t get any signal.

Helen Morgan told MPs, “People don’t care if the map shows they have coverage, they will be worried sick if someone can’t get in touch with them when their mum has gone into hospital and they’re in an area the phone signal won’t reach.

“Will the Government consider taking further steps to improve the areas of partial not-spots by requiring mobile network operators to share their equipment more effectively and to come to an arrangement where that can be done, so the number of masts and planning process isn’t one of the major factors slowing the rollout of the rural shared network.

“If that can’t be done, will she consider requiring the industry to consider ‘rural roaming’.

“If it isn’t acceptable for somebody in Birmingham to only have one choice of mobile provider, it isn’t acceptable in Shropshire either.