Mobiles ‘do not work in a quarter of the country’

SCOTS businesses are losing out on vital trade because the country has the worst mobile phone coverage in the UK.

Figures published yesterday revealed that more than a quarter of scotland has poor phone reception, which affects businesses’ ability to trade effectively.

In some rural areas, more than 40 per cent of towns and villages have a bad signal, hitting tourism hard.

Now the Federation of small Business (FSB), which has 19,000 members north of the Border, has written to the scottish Government demanding an urgent change in planning laws to allow more masts to be upgraded.

Under current rules, planning permission is required to upgrade existing 2G mobile phone masts or for future developments. Mobile operators have upgraded masts in the most populated areas and have started to roll out 3G across the country.

But according to official Ofgem figures, vast swathes of the country have not even been upgraded to 2G. It said 38 per cent of the Highlands had no 2G signal, with the figure 39 per cent in Argyll and Bute, 27 per cent in Perthshire and 22 per cent in Dumfries and Galloway. By comparison, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen had virtually complete coverage.

In terms of 3G signal, 78 per cent of

‘Cut off from the rest of the planet’

shetland had no coverage, along with 44 per cent of Moray, 40 per cent of Perthshire and 70 per cent of the Highlands. Again, big city areas had almost complete coverage.

FSB policy convener Andy Willox said: ‘Too much of scotland doesn’t have adequate mobile phone coverage. Our members tell us new technology will be vital to grow their business and our visitors tell us that they want to use their mobile devices if they’re in the centre of Edinburgh or on the Isle of Mull.

‘We’re writing to the scottish Government backing its proposals to amend the planning system and improve scotland’s levels of connectivity. But that can’t be the end of the story. Businesses and their customers across scotland want better coverage and we must see bold action to ensure no part of the country is left behind. It is unacceptable that a quarter of scotland doesn’t even have a 2G signal.

‘Official figures suggest scotland has the worst coverage of UK nations. We must get to grips with this before our businesses lose out to better connected competitors and visitors don’t come to scotland for fear of being cut off from the rest of the planet.’

scottish Labour planning spokesman sarah Boyack said: ‘ Mobile connections are no longer a luxury for businesses but a necessity for remaining competitive. It’s ridiculous we have a situation where scottish cities are getting 4G but parts of rural scotland don’t even get basic connectivity.

‘The scottish Government must make the necessary investment to ensure we do not lag behind other nations.’

scottish Tory chief whip John Lamont said: ‘The problem of poor mobile connectivity has been a longstanding problem for many rural parts of scotland. Changing the planning laws regarding digital infrastructure could be an effective way of helping to boost the signal.

‘As long as any projects were responsibly sited, it could be a means of quickly improving the completely lacklustre service received in many parts of scotland.’

A scottish Government spokeswoman said: ‘We are committed to i mproving mobile coverage in scotland. Achieving widespread 4G coverage, while ensuring the gap between those who do not receive 3G or even 2G services does not widen, is a priority.

‘Our £410million Digital scotland superfast Broadband programme is already increasing the availability of services across scotland.

‘Alongside commercial coverage, our programme will ensure that 95 per cent of premises across scotland will have access by 2017-18.’