EE, Three, Vodafone and O2 are progressively nearing a deal to work together in order to overcome the 'non-spots' across the UK countryside, that largely exclude those occupying rural areas from the speeds available for those in urban towns and cities. The network giants are currently discussing sharing infrastructures so that the coverage of rural 'non-spots' will be better distributed.
“We know that access to a fast and reliable mobile network is important to how we live, work and travel. This is as true for those in remote areas as it is for those in our towns and cities. That is why our proposal on a shared rural mobile network is so crucial. It will give consumers improved rural mobile coverage while using far fewer masts…” – Nick Jeffery, Vodafone UK CEO
The news largely follows the findings of the industry watchdog, 'Ofcom', that revealed it is not possible to make a voice call on all four networks in more than a fifth of the country. The move will largely benefit consumers and businesses operating in these areas and offer networks a powerful opportunity to strengthen the UK economy.