PLAID Cymru MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Liz Saville Roberts, has called for the roll-out of EAS masts to eliminate mobile “not-spots” to be expedited, saying people living in rural areas have waited long enough for improvements to network coverage.

A total of 14 new EAS masts are being erected across Dwyfor Meirionnydd which, once live, will provide crucial emergency services and 4G network coverage, significantly improving mobile signal in areas with no or little mobile signal.

Of the 14 masts, seven have already been built, but are still waiting to be connected to the regional power supply.

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The MP has called on the Home Office, who are responsible for the EAS (Extended Area Services) masts, to urgently activate the sites so they can be used by network providers.

She has long called on the UK Government to improve barriers to connectivity in rural North Wales and has held several high-level meetings with network providers in Westminster to lobby for improvements. 

Planning approval and passive build has already been completed at seven sites, including Mallwyd, Penmaenpool, Llanymawddwy, Dolgellau, Rhosygwalia, Llanbedr and Nant Gwynant.

A further seven sites at Trawsfynydd, Beddgelert, Abergeirw, Bala, Bryncrug, Dolgellau and Nant Gwynant are waiting to be built.

The infrastructure is part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme between the UK Government and the UK’s four mobile network operators, which will see 4G coverage boosted across Wales.

The Plaid Cymru MP has now urged the Home Office to bring forward the dates at which the masts will go live.

All mobile network providers have the opportunity to provide commercial services to the masts through the SRN programme.

She said: “The lack of a reliable mobile phone signal has long been an issue for many residents, businesses and visitors in rural Dwyfor Meirionnydd, which suffers disproportionally when it comes to mobile connectivity.

“I have long campaigned to improve mobile phone coverage in my rural constituency but despite significant progress, there remains too many areas where access to a reliable mobile phone signal is non-existent.

“Whilst I welcome a renewed commitment to expand the SRN programme through the installation of 14 masts across Dwyfor Meirionnydd, the roll-out must be delivered at pace.

“Some of these sites have long been built yet remain unconnected to the power supply.

“The sites in question represent areas where mobile coverage is largely non-existent, depriving local communities of access to a reliable phone service and further entrenching digital exclusion.

“Progress is vital if we are to enable these areas to fully access digital life.

“As well as providing crucial emergency services and 4G coverage, this program of work will facilitate people’s access to competing mobile contracts, with rural coverage boosted for all major network providers, but the speed at which this is being delivered is a cause for concern.

“I urge both the Home Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to work with their partners on the ground to get these sites up and running without further delay, connect those already built to the local power supply, and renew efforts to better connect our most rural of communities.”