Penrith and The Border MP, Dr Neil Hudson, was pleased to see today’s announcement on the Shared Rural Network (SRN) which is a key plank in the government’s plans to improve mobile phone coverage across the UK.
Uplifts in 4G coverage will allow people to seize the benefits of technology to stay connected, shop online and stream entertainment on the go. It will also power economic growth, helping people set up and run businesses from anywhere in the UK.
The boost to 4G is in addition to Project Gigabit - the £5 billion national broadband upgrade and biggest rollout in British history to bring the fastest possible internet connections to hard-to-reach areas.
Dr Neil Hudson, commenting on the announcement, said:
“One of my core campaigns is to improve connectivity across Penrith and The Border and the SRN goes some way in achieving this. I have raised the issue of poor mobile coverage in parliament and continue to have discussions with Ministers and industry leaders about it in private. I am aware from countless conversations with constituents that poor mobile phone coverage has been the scourge of the region for many years. Issues varying from not being able to run a business effectively to struggling to connect with family members and friends are all directly related to poor cellular service. The SRN shows that the government is committed to enhancing the UK’s 4G accessibility and also that it wants to tackle ‘not-spots’, of which there are several in Penrith and The Border.
4G coverage in the North-West currently stands at 73% which is not good enough. The government is forecasting that post the SRN coverage would have increased to 88%, which is a significant improvement. I am determined that our constituency is not treated as ‘the end of the line’ when it comes to mobile connectivity and will be closely following these changes to ensure that constituents are noticing a material difference on the ground.”
Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
“We’re putting connecting people across the UK at the heart of our plan to build back better, through huge uplifts to mobile coverage in rural areas and the rapid rollout of gigabit broadband. .
“Today’s announcements will improve the lives of millions of people in rural parts of the UK, giving them the connections they need to work, access services and keep in touch - both at home and on the go.”
