Mobile coverage must reflect far higher level of ambition

Mobile coverage in Scotland will continue to lag behind the rest of the UK unless Ofcom sets more ambitious coverage targets, the Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust have warned.

In a joint response to Ofcom’s consultation on the forthcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction, both organisations have urged the regulator to look at all options to improve coverage in rural Scotland.

Connectivity minister Paul Wheelhouse MSP said: ‘While, legally, access to telecommunications is the responsibility of UK ministers, I welcome the recent engagement between Ofcom, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Futures Trust in exploring alternative approaches beyond what is proposed. However, I believe current proposals fall far too short for Scotland – something we’ve been saying for a considerable time now.

‘Although we will see coverage improve as a result of Ofcom’s proposals, it still leaves coverage in Scotland lagging behind Wales, Northern Ireland and England. On top of that, the target of 2mbps is not sufficiently aspirational, does not leave enough scope for future growth in service demand and should be reconsidered. Even though it is not, for now, our responsibility, the Scottish Government is already investing £25m to improve mobile coverage through the Scottish 4G Infill Programme. However, there is an essential role for Ofcom, as the UK-wide regulator, to work alongside that investment to maximise consumer access to services.’