In several Cotswold villages, mobile phone reception is so poor that residents are forced to rely on their home Wi-Fi networks to make calls. Communities in Rendcomb, Colesbourne, and North Cerney, near Cirencester, face ongoing challenges with mobile connectivity, leaving locals frustrated.
Richard Norton, a Rendcomb resident, shared his experience: he can only use his mobile phone while connected to his home Wi-Fi due to widespread signal dead zones. Norton highlighted a complete mobile black spot stretching between Colesbourne and Rendcomb, an area where motorists cannot even make emergency calls if their vehicles break down.
“The mobile phone coverage around here is appalling,” Norton said. “I’ve been a Vodafone user for years, but coverage only exists in small, unreliable patches. Driving from Colesbourne to Rendcomb means losing signal on every network for about a mile and a half.”
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He added that in Rendcomb village, major providers like EE and Vodafone barely work, with only limited O2 coverage. For most residents, the only reliable way to stay connected on a mobile device at home is via Wi-Fi calling.
The issue gained attention at a recent Gloucestershire County Council meeting, where Councillor Paul Hodgkinson raised concerns about the impact of poor coverage on local businesses and the digital economy. Hodgkinson stressed the urgent need to eliminate mobile black spots in rural Gloucestershire, especially in the North Cotswolds.
Councillor Julian Tooke, cabinet member for business and economic development, acknowledged the problem but pointed out budget constraints limit the council’s ability to intervene directly. He assured that the council is actively lobbying for improved mobile infrastructure.
BT, the UK’s largest network investor, stated that since 2020, it has expanded mobile coverage by over 10,000 square kilometers, benefiting nearly 2,000 rural communities nationwide. They report that their network now covers over 96% of Gloucestershire’s landmass, including many rural villages. However, they admit some areas in the county have yet to see improvement due to regulatory hurdles.
Mobile UK, representing the UK’s three major network operators, echoed these concerns. They emphasized that outdated planning regulations hamper the construction of necessary mobile masts in rural areas. The industry urges government reforms to ease these barriers, allowing greater investment to deliver comprehensive mobile coverage to underserved communities.