Goverment Under Pressure Over Mobile 'Not-Spots'

15 May 2013, 06:02 | Updated: 15 May 2013, 08:48

The Government is getting put under more pressure to improve so-called mobile 'not spots'.

East Anglian rural business group, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), has said the Government’s Mobile Infrastructure Project (MIP), which aims to improve mobile phone coverage, must focus on rural areas where coverage is at its worst.

CLA East director, Nicola Currie, said: “Rural areas have been starved of a decent and usable mobile phone signal for too long. We welcome the Government’s recognition of the urgent need to significantly improve mobile coverage but it is vital to properly and effectively target those rural areas where mobile signals are non-existent.

“It is also crucial that where new masts are put in place, landowners receive a commercial rent through wayleave payments.”

Mrs Currie added: “The CLA will hold the Government to account to make sure progress on the MIP is monitored closely and ensure Arqiva meets its deadline and delivers within the £150million budget.”