Mobile phone ‘gaps’ to be mapped

A MAP of mobile phone black spots in the Outer Hebrides is being produced, after the local MP claimed that coverage was “worse than Rwanda”.

Staff from the office of isles MP Angus MacNeil and MSP Alasdair Allan travelled down the main 100-mile-plus route of the Outer Hebrides yesterday, testing the mobile signal quality along the way.

This study was sparked by the 2011 Hebridean Communications Summit where it was expressed that at, the very least, the main route of the Outer Hebrides should have 100 per cent voice coverage.

Once the study has been concluded the information will be transferred to a map and shown to mobile providers so that they can address the “serious gaps” in coverage by mast sharing or building of new masts.

Speaking from Barra, Mr MacNeil said: “It is very important that we hold these mobile companies to account. People in the Hebrides who pay for mobile phone contracts are currently not getting their money’s worth.

“We’ve all know that the coverage in the Hebrides is worse than Ireland, the Faroe Islands and Rwanda. We might as well have the proof on paper and confront them with raw data.”

Dr Allan added: “The mobile signal strength in the islands varies considerably and is something I have regularly taken up with the mobile companies for frustrated constituents.”