Mobile providers must ‘up their game’ – MP

Another episode which saw mobile phone signals lost in the county is an argument for allowing UK mobile customers to switch to another network, temporarily, if their own network fails, according to Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael.

His comments come after it emerged that mobile users in Stromness were without an O2 signal for most of the weekend and the beginning of this week. Other networks have also experienced little or no signal.

Mr Carmichael said: “This happens too often for local people and businesses in Orkney and Shetland. As an O2 customer, I find that they are slow to respond whenever there is a network problem. I hear from friends and colleagues that other networks are much the same.

“I have written to all major mobile network providers and the Mobile Operators Association highlighting the impact that poor network has in Orkney and Shetland. I have asked them to come to the Northern Isles and face their customers and local businesses who are affected by the problems.

“There are some good examples of creativity when approaching this issue. Vodafone have shown some willingness to tackle the problem by installing Femtocell technology in Walls and Hamnavoe to some success. But the ongoing issue in Stromness shows again that mobile providers must up their game in Orkney and Shetland. This is an issue which is too important not to be addressed.”