January 13, 2012 11.33 am This story is over 146 months old

Hopes for better mobile coverage on Lincoln’s outskirts

4G broadband: City MP believes Ofcom plans to boost 4G rural coverage is good news for residents on the outskirts of Lincoln.

Ofcom finally announced proposals to increase broadband coverage to an estimated 98% of the UK population, and the city MP believes this is good news for residents on the outskirts of Lincoln.

The telecoms watchdog on Friday proposed options that should ensure that 98% or more of the population receives 4G mobile broadband coverage.

This means those who currently do not have a mobile signal will now receive one, and that their signal will be upgraded from a 2G ‘voice’ signal to a 4G signal, capable of carrying broadband data.

Lincoln MP Karl McCartney was one of the leaders of a campaign to increase rural mobile coverage on a back-bench business committee debate.

The campaign urged Ofcom to increase the coverage to at least 98%, from the previous 95%, which left around 10 million people countrywide outside the coverage area.

McCartney said: “I am delighted that Ofcom has taken this decision and I am very grateful to them.

“To the south of Lincoln are suburbs and rural areas, within my constituency but outside the city boundary, and including Bracebridge Heath and Waddington, that still have problems with a lack of suitable broadband provision.

“These proposals to increase broadband coverage will transform the businesses and economy in our county and country.”

Ofcom said the bidding process for the 4G mobile spectrum is still scheduled for the end of this year.

Photo: David Becher