Government adopts MP’s call on mobile phone coverage

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael is celebrating after the Government adopted a measure he proposed, to give new protection to mobile and broadband users.

The Queen’s Speech accepts the proposals of a ten-minute rule Bill, proposed by Mr Carmichael earlier this year, to require mobile telecoms companies to disclose the quality of coverage they offer.

Mr Carmichael said: “In what is a very poor Queen’s Speech, this is one bit of light for mobile and broadband customers.

“I am pleased the government has listened to me and the millions of people who are constantly frustrated at the lack of transparency from telecoms companies.

“These new measures will ensure that people know what service they are getting, and have a real right of compensation if what they receive doesn’t match what they were sold.”

The Government has said it will:

• Give Ofcom the power to order communications providers to release data (such as customer complaints and broadband speeds data) in the interests of the consumer and competition. This would give consumers clear household level information about broadband speeds from different providers, to help them make informed choices.
• Introduce new measures to make switching providers easier for consumers, by allowing Ofcom to require communications companies to co-ordinate switches on behalf of customers. This would mean consumers would only have to deal with their new provider in order to switch.
• Introduce a new right for consumers to automatic compensation when things go wrong with their broadband service.