Local MP Andrew Percy recently met with Adam Higgitt, Head of Government and Parliamentary Business at Ofcom and Graham Louth, Director of Spectrum Markets, to discuss high speed fibre optic broadband and mobile phone coverage. The meeting was particularly important for rural communities who, in many areas, suffer from slow fixed-line Internet speeds and poor mobile phone signal for both voice and Internet use.

Ofcom explained they are set to auction mobile phone spectrum freed up from, amongst other things, the switch from analogue to digital TV. Stipulations attached to the auction would mean at least 98% of the population would be covered by signal from next generation 4G technology, increasing mobile Internet speed and voice coverage.

Ofcom said they were looking at linking these proposals to the Coalition Government’s £150m investment to improve mobile phone signal in the hardest to reach places.

The meeting follows last year’s announcement that the Humber region would get £8.5m of funding for proposals which include 90% of our area having access to super-fast broadband. The proposals mean the remaining 10% should have speeds of at least 2Mbps allowing fast browsing and the use of video streaming services like the BBC’s iPlayer.

Andrew Percy MP said, “For many communities mobile phone and broadband coverage is insufficient. Meeting with Ofcom, it was clear that the roll out of 4G mobile coverage has the potential to increase broadband speeds and coverage to all but the most isolated of communities. With the Government committed to broadband coverage to 90% of homes, much of the remaining 10% could potentially be covered by 4G.

The Internet is becoming an increasing part of peoples home and work lives. A failure to roll out broadband properly puts rural communities at a distinct disadvantage to more urban communities.

Residents can rest assured that I'll continue to push the case for better mobile and broadband coverage.”