Phone to nowhere

Following an increasing postbag of complaints about poor mobile phone coverage in Thanet, Craig Mackinlay MP has requested a meeting in Westminster with senior representatives of the mobile network providers – Vodafone, EE, O2 and 3. Local residents report appalling voice coverage and non-existent data availability in many areas.

Diaries are being arranged for the meeting to be held as soon as Parliament returns from recess.

Craig Mackinlay said “I pay tribute to local media who have been highlighting the problem, and I note an online petition to Culture Secretary John Whittingdale MP calling for action. What I need to compile is a report with hard evidence to present to the mobile networks at our meeting, pinpointing where drop-out and poor coverage occur.”

Craig Mackinlay is calling for residents to send the following information:- Postcode location, network provider, number of ‘bars’ of signal and data speeds recorded – E, 2G, 3G, 4G. This will be consolidated into a full evidence based presentation to be presented to the networks. A new Ofcom signal checker is available at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/mobile-coverage which relies upon public interaction to improve its accuracy. Residents are encouraged to use it.

Craig Mackinlay added “The government is committed to investment across the country to improve mobile and broadband speeds, particularly in rural areas, but our experience in South Thanet is that urban areas receive a raw deal as well. I am determined to improve the situation.”

Data can be provided to Craig Mackinlay using the form below.