A MAJOR report into internet coverage confirms that mobile firm operators are missing their targets to deliver rural coverage.
Pershore’s MP Harriett Baldwin said the Ofcomreport confirms feedback from hundreds of local people about the challenges of getting online over either fixed or mobile connections.
Although the phone companies have promised additional masts across the county, and delivered 4G coverage to the major population areas, some rural villages are still missing out.
Mrs Baldwin has lobbied the four major private companies responsible for delivering mobile coverage in the county to urge them to work closer with local authorities to deliver faster enhancements to the local mobile network.
“Internet connectivity poses one of the more complex challenges in rural Worcestershire and I have been worked hard with the operators to ensure they deliver on their local commitments.
“The Ofcom report is not at all surprising but it is disappointing to see how wide the gaps are between the mobile phone operator pledges and the delivery.
“Anyone who uses a mobile phone out in the countryside will know how patchy and unreliable signals can be and this simply must get sorted soon.
“I’m eager to work with companies to try and find innovative solutions to these challenges like investigating using current technologies like the huge masts at Droitwich.
“It is ironic that while we are welcoming the test facilities for 5G which will control things like driverless cars and internet connected household devices, some places struggle to even get 2G voice calls.
“I welcome the local ambition to put Worcestershire at the cutting edge of innovation but that must come with some rapid investment in infrastructure to get us far better internet connectivity at home and on the move.”
