Ross slams 'not fit for purpose' mobile coverage in Buckie
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MOBILE phone coverage in Buckie has been branded “not fit for purpose” by the local MP.
Moray Conservative MP Douglas Ross has again raised concerns about the poor level of mobile phone coverage in the Buckie area, saying that business and personal customers unable to access 3G or 4G signals.
He has contacted network provider Vodafone on behalf of a local business in Buckie that is struggling with a service that is “not fit for purpose”.
Vodafone had said after a meeting with Mr Ross in 2018 that it was investing in the network and was committed to improving coverage.
However, nearly three years on, people and businesses in the Buckie area are still reporting major problems.
Mr Ross said: “I have again contacted Vodafone as there are still many people in the Buckie area – and in other rural parts of the constituency – struggling to access a decent mobile phone signal.
“Vodafone made commitments previously to invest in the network and improve rural coverage, but the service for many is still not fit for purpose.
“This is a hard enough time for businesses without facing the added challenge of poor mobile connections.
“For many, it is not just a case of being unable to get a 4G connection, at times it is a case of struggling to get any signal at all.
“This is unacceptable and I have urged Vodafone to provide an urgent update as to when we might see some improvements.”
Moray Council Tory group leader and councillor for Buckie Tim Eagle added: “Mobile phone coverage has been a big issue in the Buckie area for a long time.
“It is not good enough in 2021 for people running businesses – or anyone else for that matter – to be struggling to get a signal.
“It is incredibly frustrating, particularly at a time when so many people are working from home and trying to home-school their children.
“It feels too often that parts of Moray are forgotten about and it is time that we saw a real improvement in vital local services.”
A spokesperson from Vodafone said: “We apologise to those customers who are having problems with mobile coverage in the Buckie area.
"Our network team are currently working to add our technology to a site in the area, but this may not be a quick solution.”
