Concern over cyber signals
MSP’s fears for Wi-Fi and DAB in rural areas
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alexander Stewart has expressed his “extreme concern” over poor mobile, Wi-Fi and DAB signal in rural Stirling and Clackmannanshire.
The Scottish Conservative Shadow Minister for Local Government says that despite the Scottish Government receiving funding from Westminster, current connectivity in the rural parts of the regions are lacking reliable mobile phone signal.
Mr Stewart (pictured) said: “Well over two years ago, the SNP Government committed to at least 95–per cent of homes and businesses in Scotland having access to fibre broadband by the end of 2017, with 100 per cent superfast coverage by 2021, as well as work to address gaps in 4G mobile coverage.
“This appears on the surface not to have happened yet and once again we see the current SNP Government falling short on its promises.
“I receive regular communication from constituents about poor mobile and broadband reception with attached concerns of safety coming up regularly also. Some of our Clackmannanshire residents live in rural areas and if for instance they are driving on their own during a freezing winter night and their car either breaks down or they are involved in an accident; not having mobile signal could have very grave consequences.”
Mr Stewart will now write to the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing, for an explanation on what further progress is being made on the improvement of mobile phone coverage as well as superfast broadband and DAB Radio.
He added: “The contract is down to them to build masts from the money that was made available by the UK Government back in 2014 and not much work seems to have been done since then.
“Indeed, maybe they could have been more prolific if they were built at the same rate as windfarms have been in our beautiful rural areas of Scotland.”
However, Stirling MSP, Bruce Crawford said telecommunications is a reserved power of the Westminster Parliament and that almost half of Scotland’s landmass is a “mobile not-spot”.
Mr Crawford said: “The lack of any UK-wide strategy from the Tory Government in London has caused the Scottish Government to step in and take the lead in this area.
“Last August, the Scottish Government launched the first phase of a 4G infill programme that aims to deliver 4G mobile coverage to Scotland’s ‘notspots’.
“We must be mindful of advancements in mobile technology with the growing demand for the next generation of wireless connectivity – 5G.
That is why this action plan comes with an initial fund of up to £25 million for futureproofed mobile masts across the country.
“This is an initial phase and will not cover all not-spots right away, however it will make a significant difference where implemented and clearly sets out the Scottish Government’s commitment to stepping in on this issue and addressing poor mobile coverage in Scotland.”