EDM: Mobile connectivity in rural areas

Mobile connectivity in rural areas

Tabled by Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat) 23 signatures

The motion

That this House recognises that reliable mobile connectivity is essential infrastructure, yet rural areas such as West Dorset continue to experience persistent signal not-spots, including in Stoke Abbott, with serious human, economic and safety consequences; notes that in such communities residents have no mobile signal and are deeply concerned about the impact of the radio teleswitch and digital landline switch-off, particularly where one constituent was moved to digital voice without warning and left without a working phone line for days despite serious health conditions; further notes that in villages without mobile coverage the landline remains a vital lifeline, especially during power cuts; highlights cases where residents cannot contact emergency services, run businesses or access basic services, and where one constituent must travel daily for her pacemaker to transmit vital medical data; also notes that current Ofcom reporting relies on modelled data that masks real coverage gaps due to topography leading to poor enforcement of standard in rural areas, while local evidence shows significant street-level variation and seasonal drops of up to 50 percentage points; further recognises that digital inclusion can deliver a £9.48 return for every £1 invested and unlock over £200 billion in productivity by 2035; welcomes initiatives such as the Shared Rural Network but notes they have not closed the most severe gaps; and calls on the Government to mandate street-level coverage reporting, provide ringfenced funding for local digital capacity, reform planning and business rates for infrastructure, and prioritise rural connectivity to end digital exclusion.

Signatories (23)