Imagine the scene. You are outside enjoying the Scottish countryside, perhaps at a park or a beach. The views are stunning, and everything is great. You reach for your phone to share the moment and the worst happens. No mobile reception!
To many, there are few things more annoying than when you can’t get any outdoor mobile reception. We live in a society where we are used to being able to speak to anyone, anytime. Some also feel a little agitated when their phone has no reception, and they can’t be reached. Perhaps you have a child at school, an important call expected from work or a sick family member. There are many reasons why you would always want to remain contactable.
Fortunately, these areas of no reception, or “not spots” will soon be a thing of the past.
Reception everywhere for everyone
Without mobile reception, there’s also no data reception, meaning that unless you have a wi-fi spot nearby, you can’t access the internet or any of your social media platforms. This is a particularly common problem in Scotland. Which? magazine recently discovered that 4G mobile phone users in Scotland can, on average, get a 4G signal only 50.4% of the time.
To try to solve this problem, mobile providers and the UK government have agreed a £1 billion plan to wipe out “not spots” in Scotland, ensuring 4G mobile reception everywhere. This is great news for everyone, especially people and businesses in more rural areas in East Dunbartonshire.
Mobile companies have agreed to share existing masts and infrastructure with each other in areas where there is coverage from at least one but not all operators. Should everything work as hoped, the UK government will then commit up to £500 million of investment to eliminate all “not spots” where there is zero coverage from any operator.
The aim is to bring 4G mobile coverage to 95% of Britain by the year 2025.
Increasing reception in East Dunbartonshire
For residents of East Dunbartonshire, this is great news. As fibre broadband continues its rollout in the area – with aims to achieve 100% coverage by 2021 – it means residents can enjoy more reliable internet connections. Broadband is important, as many rely on it for wi-fi calling at home as they receive no mobile reception. They may soon be able to use their mobiles on a network instead. As more and more people get online through mobiles, however, it’s important to remain vigilant about the ever-increasing number of scams trying to cheat people out of their money. Take a look through our range of guides, and if you would like to talk to us about any concerns, just get in touch.
Contact us
