Action must be taken to tackle poor mobile network coverage across Fife and the impact poor connectivity is having on local businesses according to the council’s deputy leader.
Councillor Lesley Laird called for measures to address the problem faced by firms and individuals in many parts of the region.
Data from Ofcom recently revealed up to 10% of Fife’s road network has no coverage from any of the four main mobile network operators in the UK, prompting Mrs Laird to take up the matter at a national level.
While Deputy First Minister John Swinney has responded positively about investment in rolling out commercial 4G, Mrs Laird who is also Fife’s executive spokesperson for economy and planning admits she still has concerns about the quality of service provided in the Kingdom.
“This continues to present challenges for the public in general and also for businesses operating, and considering investment, in Fife,” she told The Courier.
“In recent discussions with Fife Chamber, the Fife Economy Partnership and the Federation of Small Businesses, this issue has been raised with me.
“Access to consistent mobile connectivity is fundamental for businesses particularly if travelling around the kingdom and there needs to be confidence about not just voice but data access.”
Mr Swinney recently revealed that the Scottish Government is assessing potential models to address mobile coverage gaps, in collaboration with the industry, in future.
One example was a pilot project on the Isle of Coll, which went live in March last year, in which Vodafone extended 3G and 4G services in that remote location using a community-owned mast.
Another scheme was also launched earlier this month for the Isle of Arran and an area of Moray covering Glenlivet and Knockandhu two areas where signals are deemed to be poor.
That particular project has seen the government offer non-domestic rates relief in those areas to try and encourage mobile network operators to improve services.
Mr Swinney said a number of alternative models are also being piloted “with a view to determining which could be scalable in future”, and a number of areas of Fife could be included in the coming months.
“I am keen for Fife to be involved in this approach,” Mrs Laird concluded.
“This would certainly go some way towards addressing some of the concerns of businesses across Fife in improving patchy mobile signals.
“I look forward to hearing how Fife can take this pilot forward.”