Group builds case for better mobile coverage

Businesses in Shrewsbury are being asked to report poor mobile phone connectivity in the town centre.

The local Business Improvement District (BID) group, which represents local companies, said Shrewsbury was not always getting the "good outdoor" coverage reported by Ofcom.

The BID said it wanted to lobby providers for improved coverage.

Alex Wagner, deputy leader of Shropshire Council, said: "The evidence shows that real‑world mobile performance is not matching what coverage models suggest."

Shrewsbury BID said a technical survey had been carried out by the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region and it found "persistent connectivity issues in the town".

It said in the Square, in the centre of the town, no mobile network met the Ofcom standards for voice calls for more than 20% of tests.

Wagner said: "Poor connectivity can affect card payments, customer confidence and, ultimately, trade."

He said by completing the BID survey, businesses could help build the case for better coverage.

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