mobile not spots

This article explains how the Government intends to provide mobile coverage to 60,000 homes and businesses currently in black spots by 2015. The map in the piece illustrates the 5 phased approach of the scheme; with parts of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland covered in earlier phases and parts of Gloucestershire and Hampshire among the last areas to be tackled. The article has opened up debate about the precise number of homes and businesses in ‘black spots’ and if the Government is falling short of its original targets. According to the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) “the problem of complete not-spots is not as widespread as first thought” however the Countryside Alliance – which has led a not spots campaign – is disappointed the Government is no longer talking about providing mobile coverage to 99% of the country’s population. Working in rural areas across the UK, mobile phone reception can be very patchy. Will the Government’s investment lead to a phone revolution or are rural areas being left even further behind?