Norfolk County Council Uses Waste Trucks to Identify Poor Phone Coverage

Waste collection vehicles are being deployed to identify regions experiencing inadequate mobile phone signal as part of a new initiative. Norfolk County Council has equipped its fleet of bin lorries with monitoring devices to collect data concerning signal strength and download speeds. The issue of insufficient mobile phone coverage gained prominence following Storm Darragh, an event that resulted in residents of rural villages being without electricity or communication capabilities for multiple days. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports that information collected through this new program, undertaken in collaboration with mobile analysts Streetwave, will contribute to an interactive coverage map. This map will offer filtering options by network. The expectation is that this data will contribute to improving connectivity across Norfolk. Conservative councillor Jane James, who serves as the cabinet member for corporate services and innovation, stated: “Not having a mobile phone signal when you really need it is incredibly frustrating and this tool will help to find the best service in the area.” She added, “We will also use this data to push for better signal coverage in Norfolk. Providers frequently claim extensive coverage but we know that the situation on the ground can be very different.” Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group, expressed that the council should intensify its efforts to address connectivity problems. He commented: “We’ve had promise after promise from County Hall Conservatives year after year about tackling ‘notspots’.” He continued, “Yet there still isn’t even an up-to-date picture of where service is poor.” Morphew concluded, “As so much requires phone and internet access, the more frustrating it is for the public and businesses that are getting a poor service.”