Maxine Smith, a councillor in Cromarty Firth is calling for a review of telecommunications companies who are failing to provide connectivity to rural areas of Scotland. She states that the lack of 3G Mobile Broadband is depriving the local communities of services that are the focus of the third generation of mobile phone standards and technology.
3G Mobile Broadband services include: video calls, mobile broadband, VOIP.
In response Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Rob Gibson has announced a review of 3G Coverage to determine which areas are being neglected. He is likely to find that large areas have little or no Mobile Broadband coverage. Vodafone a leader in Mobile Broadband only have a small area of coverage around Inverness and an even smaller area in Elgin, with no plans to increase in the next 6 months.
An Orange spokeswoman was more positive promising larger investment in the Highlands “to enhance the experience for our customers”.
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