Councillors at West Oxfordshire District Council are taking proactive steps to address the longstanding issue of inadequate mobile phone signal in rural communities across the district. With a commitment to bridging the digital divide, Conservative councillors submitted a motion calling for enhanced connectivity and accessibility for all residents.
Rural communities have faced significant challenges in maintaining reliable mobile phone coverage, which is essential for communication, emergency services, and business activities. The councillors are dedicated to finding practical solutions to this issue, recognising that connectivity is a fundamental right for all residents, regardless of their location.
Councillor Alaa Al-Yousuf, who is leading this initiative and proposed the motion, emphasised the importance of improving mobile phone signal in rural areas. "In today's digital age, reliable connectivity is not a luxury; it's a necessity. We are determined to ensure that rural communities in West Oxfordshire have access to the same level of mobile phone service as our more urban counterparts and that is why we wanted to bring this motion to full council."
The motion, which was supported by all councillors present at the council’s full council meeting on Wednesday 27th September, called for the leader of the District Council to engage with Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited and, as a first step, invite it to send senior representatives to brief councillors and residents at a public meeting at the earliest opportunity.
Councillor Liam Walker, who seconded the motion, said: "We should be aiming to create a more connected and resilient rural West Oxfordshire by addressing this critical issue that so many rural residents rightly get frustrated about. With all the technology available we shouldn't be having mobile signal issues in the year 2023 and we hope this motion will help to refocus the issue."
This motion received unanimous support from all councillors present at the district council meeting.