For the first time in the county, we are working with district and borough councils refuse teams to sniff out the county’s worst mobile signal not spots. Equipped with mobile signal testing devices, these lorries will roam the streets as usual, but this time, they'll be picking up more than just bins – they'll be collecting crucial data on where mobile signals fail to deliver.
Councillor Carolyn Renwick, our Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, said:
“We’re working hard with government and partners to bring better broadband to homes and businesses, but what about when we step outside? Too many people in Derbyshire find themselves in signal dead zones, where making a call or loading a webpage is just to slow for modern day living.
“We all rely on mobile connectivity for everyday life – whether it’s checking emails, online banking, following a map, or just trying to load a video on social media. Even smart meters, transport management and card payments need strong mobile signals.
“That’s why, with the help of our district and borough councils, we’re turning bin lorries into signal scouts. As they make their rounds, they’ll help us pinpoint where connectivity is rubbish – so we can lobby and help mobile networks clean up their act.”
Our Digital Derbyshire programme is funding the project, reinvesting gainshare funds from the Digital Derbyshire broadband rollout to map mobile coverage across the county. Mobile mapping specialist Streetwave has been commissioned to co-ordinate the project, with data collection expected to take around 3 months.
Signal strength will be measured for the UK's 4 main mobile networks: Three, Vodafone, EE, and O2. The data will create a countywide mobile signal map, giving us the evidence we needs to push for investment in better connectivity. Once the data is received, residents will be able to check their details and see whether they have the best coverage and downloads for their needs.