Residents in Airdrie and Shotts are being asked to share details of mobile reception blackspots across the constituency as its MSP bids to improve the area’s connectivity.
Neil Gray has launched an online survey and is asking people to share their experiences, which he will then present to network operators to discuss potential improvements and urge them to invest further in infrastructure.
He is asking for constituents’ views after increasingly noting that “mobile reception varies greatly as I travel around Airdrie & Shotts, and doesn’t always match up to official data on coverage”.
Mr Gray said: “Nowhere in the constituency is that remote, yet some places have very poor signal strength – there are areas where even a phone call can disconnect, never mind accessing mobile internet.
“There is a huge difference in reception and coverage while travelling around Airdrie & Shotts and I hope the survey results will enable me to contact the networks to see what can be done to improve things.
“With people still working from home and schools, colleges and universities about to return, there will be added pressure on all data connections so a better mobile service will be invaluable.”
His survey asks residents to rate calls and mobile internet use at their home addresses and whether they have 3G, 4G or 5G reception, and to identify any other local areas where they typically experience poor quality mobile connections.
The MSP then plans to contact “big four” mobile providers EE, O2, Three and Vodafone with the outcome, asking them to consider improving local connectivity.
Mr Gray added: “Although networks’ official data show good 4G coverage across Airdrie & Shotts from at least one provider, local experiences can be different.
“I can’t promise to secure better coverage but can at least try; I know the providers are looking to invest in mobile network coverage, so I want to help inform their decisions by collecting as much data as possible to urge more investment in infrastructure to improve connectivity.
The survey can be completed at https://bit.ly/MobileCoverage.
