Fast internet for region’s ‘not spots’

MORE rural communities are set to be given fast mobile internet access under moves to close a digital divide between town and country.

Telecoms regulator Ofcom has bowed to pressure and will ensure more remote areas are covered by the next – Fourth – generation of mobile technology, which will allow smartphone and tablet computer users to stream and download.

Instead of requiring operators to cover 95 per cent of the population, which would have left significant areas of rural Britain in “not spots”, at least 98 per cent of the country is set to be covered by the new technology.

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Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith said: “It is vitally important that when the 4G spectrum is put up for auction rural Britain is not left behind and I am pleased that Ofcom has now accepted that view.

“As the connection gap between town and country continues, it is having an appalling impact on rural businesses and households.

“For the economic and social future of our most rural areas we must be as ambitious as possible in delivering the same quality mobile connections as in our cities.”

The Government is due to auction licences for the new 4G spectrum later this year, when they are likely to net the Treasury between £1 billion and £5 billion.

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The new licences will give operators access to frequencies freed up as the UK switches off analogue TV and moves to digital.

Ofcom initially proposed requiring bidders to offer 95 per cent coverage, but rural groups and MPs demanded it must be more ambitious or risk landing another blow for remote areas many of which are already denied access to broadband connections and even have to put up with patchy basic mobile reception.

Now Ofcom says it will cover at least 98 per cent of the population, either by raising the minimum requirement to this level or by demanding the successful bidder covers everywhere with basic mobile coverage as well as whatever “not spots” are reached with an extra £150m pledged by the Government.

Charles Trotman, head of rural business development for the Country Land and Business Association, said: “This is very encouraging news for the rural economy, which is seriously disadvantaged by poor and often non-existent mobile phone network coverage.

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“Dependent on the success of the 4G trials currently taking place in parts of southern England, this could be a great opportunity for people living and working in the more remote parts of Yorkshire.”

Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said: “The Government is determined to provide the UK with the communications infrastructure we need to live, work and drive economic growth in the digital age.”

MPs are now urging the Government not to delay the auction of licences any further amid concern that poor coverage is already disadvantaging remote areas and holding back the ability for businesses to set up and thrive in rural areas.

Councils are also waiting for the Government to sign off European funding to help finance the roll out of fixed superfast broadband connections to remote parts of North Yorkshire. Officials are being urged to speed up the process to ensure the money is not lost.

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Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said: “As the UK enters a new generation of mobile communications, Ofcom’s objective is to promote effective competition and to stimulate both investment and innovation.

“In addition we are proposing a significant enhancement of mobile broadband, extending 4G coverage beyond levels of existing 2G coverage – helping to serve many areas of the UK that have traditionally been underserved by network coverage.”

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