Mobile coverage

[John S]

I raised this at the recent Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Isles Area Committee and wonder what genuine kintyre forum members think...

Mobile coverage in Argyll and Bute is at best patchy and at worse non-existent particularly in some of the more remote and exposed areas. Such areas are often the places where wind farm developments are proposed. Why can we not make it a condition that any approved windfarm must enable the community in the vicinity of the windfarm to be able to access state of the art mobile connectivity. Don't know how practical an idea this is and I am willing to have it shot down in flames by tekkies but I am interested in peoples opinions.

[WC1]

Two thoughts, John

First, your idea contains the danger that planners will begin to attach plus points to side benefits like a promise to improve mobile coverage and therefore be swayed towards approving wind turbine developments that they might otherwise be minded to refuse. A dangerous road to go down.

Second, we pay through the nose for our mobile contracts. Never mind parts of the countryside where the signal vanishes - I lose signal just going from one end of the house to the other. And it sticks in my craw that parts of the country are moving on to 4G when we don't even have 3G yet. The phone companies should be obliged to provide the same standards of coverage for ALL their customers. It's not as if they're not able to afford it. In fact, Vodafone could ditch some of their tax-avoidance practices by investing some of their profits in improving coverage. That, however, is a matter for the government and OFCOM, not something for local government to get mixed up in.

[Mr.Everready]

The 3 network has 3G in Campbeltown, as far as I'm aware they are the only company that do.
Excellent service from it too.

[bill]

I raised this at the recent Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Isles Area Committee and wonder what genuine kintyre forum members think...

Wondering who you clarify as genuine Kintyre forum members ??

[russanros]

The 3 network has 3G in Campbeltown, as far as I'm aware they are the only company that do.
Excellent service from it too.

We have Orange and when we first moved here it was appalling, however since they merged with T mobile it is much better. can get T mobile 3G most parts of town, Machrihanish and even the beach at Peninver- the orange signal is in blackspot all the way from Fort Argyll all the way to Carradale!

The improvement is such that we decided to stay with Orange/T mobile, as we originally thought we would change when contracts expired.

[Mzz pasico]

The 3 network has 3G in Campbeltown, as far as I'm aware they are the only company that do.
Excellent service from it too.

In total agreement with you Mr Everready. I've had a "3" contract phone for almost two and a half years and i've been able to use it when friends on other networks can't use theirs. Wouldn't dream of changing. "3" for me all the way.

[argylltourist]

I am in Glenbarr and cannot get ANY mobile coverage...........Am I alone?

[Mr.Everready]

We have Orange and when we first moved here it was appalling, however since they merged with T mobile it is much better. can get T mobile 3G most parts of town, Machrihanish and even the beach at Peninver- the orange signal is in blackspot all the way from Fort Argyll all the way to Carradale!

The improvement is such that we decided to stay with Orange/T mobile, as we originally thought we would change when contracts expired.

They do ? My son is on Orange and can't get 3g.

[D.H]

I don't get a mobile signal down in Southend either. I think it is very damaging for tourism as well as being very inconvenient.

As the mobile companies have to apply for licences through the UK Govt you might think that basic internet coverage of the whole of the UK would be an expectation of any licence before any further development of 4G.

[maganru]

Vodafone has been getting marginally better over the last couple of years. But if we need to do any quantity of texting or make calls, we head off to Keil Point where the signal is much better.

[russanros]

They do ? My son is on Orange and can't get 3g.

You have to physically change your phone from Orange onto Orange T mobile signal, this is relatively quick and simple to do on my phone (an HTC- wireless & network options) - I tend to leave mine on Orange Tmobile around here as most places the signal is better, however if you are in Carradale, Lochgilphead or Inveraray you then need to switch back as there is very little Orange T mobile signal there!

I dont know if there is a way of setting your phone up so that it automatically selects the stronger signal?

[francii]

I live in Campbeltown, I have been with O2 for 3 years and my signal is so bad I am generally constrained to making calls in my kitchen where I can sometimes get signal...defeats the purpose of a 'mobile' phone and pretty shocking in this day and age that I can't get signal in my own home! have to say I don't agree with tying it in with wind farms though, I agree that it would be an unfair leverage for companies to use!

[Mr.Everready]

I live in Campbeltown, I have been with O2 for 3 years and my signal is so bad I am generally constrained to making calls in my kitchen where I can sometimes get signal

Ever thought of changing your provider ?