Councils working together to improve mobile phone experience for locals
Fleets of bin lorries fitted with devices to collect mobile phone signal data are to take to the streets of the north of Scotland with the aim of understanding the experience of mobile phone users and to provide locals and businesses with accurate mobile phone information.
The year-long programme, part-funded by infrastructure body, the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), aims to accurately record what mobile coverage is available across the Moray, Aberdeenshire and Highland Council areas, allowing users to use their phones to the full extent and not just making a call or sending a simple text.
The collected data will include signal strength, network speed, and coverage details for the UK’s major mobile operators: EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone. The results will help identify areas where there is limited coverage and guide improvements and the roll out of future solutions, especially in remote communities where digital exclusion is a significant issue. It is proposed that the data will be made available to residents and businesses through a free coverage checker, provided by Streetwave, aimed at allowing users to make better informed choices about which mobile network provider to choose.
The mapping exercise will be carried out using the Councils’ fleets of bin lorries together with other Council vehicles travelling along approximately 10,000 miles of roads to ensure thorough coverage of addresses in the three Council areas.
Gaining an accurate understanding of mobile coverage and true user experience is crucial in shaping future investment to enhance digital connectivity across Scotland.
Helping to reduce the cost of the initiative, Moray, Highland and Aberdeenshire Councils agreed to come together to drive the exercise and provide a fuller picture across the region.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “This is a really good example of the public sector working smart and making the most of existing resources to deliver positive change in an area which can face network challenges.
“This innovative and collaborative programme will not only help public bodies and communities make informed choices about networks but could also help guide future investment in mobile connectivity in the north of Scotland.”
Neil Rutherford, who leads the Digital Connectivity team at the Scottish Futures Trust, explained: “Using bin lorries that already travel across our roads into all communities is a practical way of collecting reliable mobile data.
“By working with Streetwave and the local authorities to build our understanding of coverage across the country, in both rural and urban areas, we are establishing a strong understanding of mobile connectivity issues. It’s only by having the right data and the right digital tools can we work together to truly connect all of Scotland.”
Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Raymond Bremner, said: “Good digital connectivity is critical for Highland communities and businesses. In rural areas, the mobile network plays an important part in providing that connectivity not just for mobile phones, but also for fixed broadband for properties not served by fibre.
“Having accurate information on the real-world availability and performance of the network will enable Highland Council to identify areas with coverage and make the case for targeted investment.”
Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee Chair Cllr Alan Turner said: “We’ve expanded on the initial work with an objective of mapping the whole of Aberdeenshire. Acquiring this real-world, accurate data will help to provide evidence for further investment into digital connectivity programmes that will service and support residents, businesses, and communities.
“We’re grateful for Scottish Futures Trust’s work that has enabled Scottish local authorities to get going with this project, supporting the deployment of new telecommunications infrastructure and replicating what Streetwave is, or has been, delivering in more than 100 local authorities across the UK.”
Cllr Marc Macrae, Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee said: “Having reliable and up-to-date data on mobile coverage is a vital step in addressing the digital divide across Moray. This project will give the evidence needed to press for further improvements in mobile infrastructure, ensuring that even our most rural communities are not left behind. We’re pleased to be working with our neighbouring councils and grateful for the support from the Scottish Futures Trust in making this innovative approach possible.”
George Gibson, Partnerships Director and Co-Founder of Streetwave, said: "We are delighted to be working with SFT to map mobile coverage in some of Scotland’s most rural councils. By providing detailed coverage insights, we will empower digitally excluded communities to highlight the challenges they face and help drive the targeted interventions needed to improve connectivity."
