Councillors from Norfolk County Council’s Digital Innovation and Efficiency Committee today approved the publication of a mobile phone coverage map, which has been created using the results of a study commissioned by the Council earlier this year. The survey covered 5,000km of Norfolk’s roads and 30 places on foot, capturing six million data points, looking at the quality of coverage from the four main mobile network operators (MNO) including EE, Telefonica/O2, Three and Vodafone across 2G, 3G 4G. Today the Council committed to working closely with the MNOs to identity where in the county additional mobile equipment is required and where NCC owns structures that could be used to house new phone masts. The council will also facilitate conversations with other local public sector organisations such as district councils and Police, to look for even more buildings which could be utilised. The mobile survey will be repeated in 12 months to show how much progress has been made on improving mobile phone signals across the county. Tom Garrod, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Digital Innovation and Efficiency Committee, said:
“We regularly hear from residents and businesses who are plagued by poor mobile phone signals in Norfolk, but it was important that we got a accurate, impartial assessment of the situation. Now that we know where the problem areas are we can start to do something about it. “This map provides us with a strong starting point to work with the mobile network operators to improve signal right across the county. In our work together to improve the signal we will be overlaying more than 200 council owned structures onto the map which potentially could be used to house mobile masts. I am confident that by working with the mobile network operators and removing as many barriers as we can, we will begin to see signal improve quickly.”
Also commenting on the release of the mobile phone coverage map, Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager for Norfolk Chamber said:
“We have a diverse and innovative business community in Norfolk, however if we want to be seen as a place to do business and be able to compete at a national and international level, we need more investment in Norfolk’s mobile signal infrastructure and improved services from the mobile providers. Norfolk Chamber will continue to work in partnership with Norfolk County Council and the mobile network operators to work towards greater mobile signal coverage in Norfolk.”
