New antenna to boost city’s woeful mobile phone signal

The city centre’s poor mobile phone network signal has been given a much-needed boost following work to upgrade a telecommunications mast. Engineers have used a crane in Stour Street to access an antenna on top of the former post office building, used by Vodaphone, 02, T-mobile and their piggy-back providers. The improvement will be widely welcomed by the many businesses, shoppers and visitors who use the networks but have been frustrated by the dire reception.

The upgrade has not come a moment too soon for councillor Ben Fitter-harding who works in the city centre and has long campaigned for better signal. “I’ve been pursuing this for more than a year because it is vital that the city has good connectivity,” he said. “I understand there have been delays in accessing this mast because of bringing in the crane and then there has been Covid-19 to deal with.

“But I’m relieved to finally see something happening and the engineers on site have told me they are upgrading the mast.” Mobile phone operators have previously said the main problem with providing a reliable signal in the city centre is the narrow streets and tall buildings. It has proved an increasing frustration for people in the city who are unable to make calls or get poor connections and cannot access the internet via their mobile signal. Improved connectivity is now especially vital to the city as it tries to rebuild its retail and visitor economy in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown. Canterbury Business Improvement

District boss Lisa Carlson says it will be welcomed by traders, shoppers and visitors. “A survey we did in the city about 18 months ago flagged up poor mobile reception as a big issue,” she said. “Canterbury is a place we want people to come and that connectivity is very important for people to make and receive calls. It’s vital for businesses too, even more so as we have to deal with the economic challenges ahead.”

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Canterbury Bid boss Lisa Carlson says it will be welcomed by traders

Work underway in Stour Street to upgrade the mobile mast

Cllr Ben Fitter-harding has campaigned for better signal