Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has urged Government to prioritise the rollout and expansion of Mobile Phone services in rural Ireland – particularly the areas that currently do not have any mobile phone service.
His comments come following the decision of the Government to sell the 5G spectrum to the different mobile phone operators.
He says the sale of the 5G spectrum licence is welcome news as it will allow for expansion of capacity for all mobile phone users in areas where you have an existing signal.
However, he claims the Government’s announcement will offer nothing to the areas that currently do not have a signal from any of the mobile phone operators.
He says the Government has already published its strategy for increasing mobile phone services in rural areas but there has been no follow-on action.
“There is a total lack of commitment to deliver the changes necessary in order to compel the mobile phone operators to deliver a countrywide mobile phone service.
“The situation at present is totally intolerable with many areas having no mobile phone service, other areas having a service which is decreasing in quality of signal or with a recurring service interruption.
“The Government should have used the opportunity of issuing the 5G spectrum licences to pressurise the mobile phone operators to expand their existing phone signals in order that a greater mobile phone signal would be available nationwide.
“I believe the Government have missed an opportunity to comprehensively deal with the shocking lack of and poor signals available in many areas throughout the country but particularly in Donegal,” he said.
He added the Government needs to do more than just publish strategies on mobile phone services.
“It needs to have the backbone to take these companies on and pressurise them to fulfil their existing commitments of delivering a mobile phone service to all areas regardless of location and a service that guarantees a top quality signal to every resident in the country, not just the more populated areas or the lucrative areas for service provision.
“The technologies for improving and providing full coverage mobile phone service exists, what is lacking is the commitment by the mobile phone operators to provide services to less populated and less financially lucrative areas and the Government has a duty to deal with this.
“Many communities throughout rural area are seriously disadvantaged by the failure of the Government to take real action on increasing the availability of mobile phone services, mobile phone are an essential part of ordinary day living, so much are daily routine revolves around our mobiles and mobiles are so interconnected to our employment.
“I am calling on the Minister for Communications and the Government to stop procrastinating and to tackle the issue of mobile phone signals in a comprehensive manner and one which will see real results for rural communities rather than publishing strategies outlining how they intend to do improve signals – no more intensions are required by the Government just real and tangible actions with results that will improve the services for all our citizens,” concluded Pat the Cope.
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