Helen renews fight for better mobile signal in new Parliamentary role

Helen Morgan MP has pledged to use the new Parliamentary term to renew her fight for improved mobile signal in North Shropshire.

The North Shropshire MP has been busy tabling a new law that would help sort out phone signal and setting up a new Parliamentary group that is set to investigate problems with mobile networks, broadband connections and the copper wire landline switch-off.

The MP has once again laid out legislation to bring in ‘Rural Roaming’, a proposal which would boost coverage in rural areas by giving customers access to other networks in places where they don’t usually get signal.

Officially titled the ‘Access to Telecommunications Networks Bill’, her changes would be of particular use for farming and agricultural businesses who often suffer as a result of ‘not-spots’ which are covered by other providers.

Helen’s legislation would require telecoms firms like BT and O2 to grant access to their network in areas where people cannot access phone signal. By obliging telecoms firms to work together, the MP argues that many areas without coverage in North Shropshire and across the UK would go live at a minimal cost to the provider.

Signal is still lacking in large swathes of Shropshire, even in areas where the official data claims there is coverage.

The MP has also taken on a new Parliamentary role as Chair of the new Digital Communities All-Party Parliamentary Group. The cross-party group has been set up to champion communities in need of improved connectivity, and provide important scrutiny to changes like the copper wire landline switch off.

Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, said, “Spotty mobile signal, bad broadband connections and concerns over copper wire landlines are all big issues in Shropshire.

“With a new Parliament and new Government, this is a good time to propose some of the changes we need to see. I’m renewing calls that I made last term for improvements to mobile signal by tabling our Rural Roaming Bill, which would sort out mobile signal not-spots in areas like Shropshire.

“I am really pleased to be taking on a new role that will help me champion the concerns that so many people have with connectivity in rural areas like North Shropshire, and provide important national scrutiny to changes like those proposed to copper wire landlines.

“As ever, if anyone in North Shropshire has an issue to raise with connectivity or wishes to share their views and experiences, do get in touch. I’m keen to hear from as many people as possible.”