4G coverage gets a boost

Villages will see benefit

A mobile operator has completed work which it claims should enhance phone and computer use in rural Stirlingshire.

EE, part of the BT Group, has built a number of new 4G mobile sites and updated 15 others across the area.

The company says the work will provide new 4G coverage to communities that include Balquidder, Kilmahog, Lochearnhead and the Carron Valley and improve coverage along many A and B roads, such as the A84, A85, A827 and B818.

4G is the fourth generation of mobile technology and enables users to browse web pages, make video calls and download music and video on the move, at faster speeds than with 3G.

People across rural Stirlingshire have for many years complained about slow broadband and poor mobile phone signals across the area.

As well as providing better coverage for commercial users, the new and upgraded masts better connect the network for emergency services personnel.

EE said it is working closely with Stirling Council to improve mobile phone coverage in rural areas, so more residents, businesses and tourists in Stirling can access 4G.

Stirling MP Stephen Kerr, commented: “A lot of the rural areas across Stirling are particularly difficult to get good coverage for due to topography so I welcome the investment by EE and the UK Government in our digital infrastructure.

MSP Bruce Crawford has been conducting a survey on 4G coverage.

He said he has received “hundreds of responses” which he said gave a strong indication of the deficiencies in rural coverage.

“This is a welcome expansion of 4G access in rural parts of my constituency and it will certainly benefit residents, visitors, and businesses in place like Lochearnhead and Balquhidder,” he added.

“Representatives from EE have since been in touch with my office and I will be meeting with them shortly to discuss the issues that customers are facing in terms of mobile internet connectivity.

Managing director of emergency services network at EE Simon Frumkin said: “Too much of Scotland has been left behind when it comes to mobile technologies. We’re investing across the country to put that right.

“We’ve already built 90 sites that are providing coverage for the first time, and there are more than 200 to go – this is going to revolutionise access to the digital economy across Scotland, and it will provide 4G coverage for the emergency services network.”

EE said their work adds new coverage in some areas while increase signal strength, capacity or reliability in others.

The company claims its 4G network covers more than 90 per cent of thew UK and has the fastest 4G speeds for streaming, downloading and video sharing.

It has also launched a new 4G home broadband solution which it claims has the potential to give broadband to 580,000 homes across the UK, particularly those in rural areas, via EE’s 4G network.

A spokesman said: “The new 4G home broadband combines the 4GEE Home Router with a powerful external antenna and professional installation service, and is designed as an alternative for those in rural communities that have yet to be connected with traditional fixed line broadband access or where customers can only receive slower fixed broadband speeds.”