Campaign to send signal over mobile reception

Attempts to map out the phone reception areas of rural Yorkshire are continuing, with the Countryside Alliance reporting that nearly 100,000 samples have poured in each day.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Aug 2013, 01:00 BST
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For the past three months, the alliance has been getting smart phone owners to download the free RootMetrics app and send back samples of the mobile phone signal where they are.

Since then the number of samples to the database has increased by 66 per cent and 95,000 new reports are made each day as it attempts to show how rural businesses and individuals are having to put up with a far poorer service then those in urban areas.

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As well as being a problem for commerce, it also poses safety implications as people cannot call for help if they find themselves or others in distress.

A spokesman said: “That’s why we are searching for evidence to ensure people living in the countryside are not forgotten by mobile phone companies and that they benefit from the Government’s £150m mobile phone infrastructure project.”

Countryside Alliance executive chairman Barney White-Spunner said: “We are delighted by the fantastic support we are getting for our campaign. It is very important that we can prove that some people living in the countryside are not getting a good deal from their phone service providers.

“The rates of phone coverage quoted by phone companies are a best case scenario. Once we have the true picture we can lobby Government and the phone companies to improve your phone service.”

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And Bill Moore, CEO and president of RootMetrics, said: “We believe that mobile phone users on the same network and tariff should receive the same level of service and customer experience, regardless of location. We’re delighted to be able to help the Countryside Alliance highlight the issue of rural mobile phone coverage and performance in the UK.”

To take part, all people have to do is download the free RootMetrics app on to their smartphone or tablet and use it when they are at home and out and about.

The app tests the strength of their signal and automatically records the result.

And both the app and maps available at rootmetrics.co.uk can show which company provides the best service in a particular area.

Related topics:YorkshireGovernment