A MAP of mobile coverage across Barnsley is now available after county bosses approved plans to improve residents’ connectivity.
Funding for the project was approved by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) earlier this year, which put data collection devices into waste collection vehicles to gather street-level data as the vehicles travelled on their daily routes.
This information has been used to create a free and publicly available interactive map which shows in detail how the UK’s main four mobile network providers - EE, O2, Three and Vodafone - are performing.
The mapping project will also identify areas which may require help to improve local mobile coverage and network capacity.
Coun Robin Franklin, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, said: “One of our missions is to make Barnsley the UK’s leading digital town - having a strong digital infrastructure is key to turning that ambition into reality.
“Mobile connectivity and digital access are crucial to almost all aspects of our lives in the modern world.
“It supports our operations as a council, the emergency services, remote working, leisure and entertainment, and much more.
“This project will help to find areas that need the most improvement and give us more accurate data which can inform future investment in mobile and digital infrastructure, which is essential to our communities.
“It will also help us to create inclusive growth in our economy where all residents can benefit from improved digital connectivity and access to technology.”
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard added: “These days getting online and staying connected isn’t a luxury, it’s vital.
“Whether we’re booking a doctor’s appointment, running a business or keeping in touch with friends, we all rely on decent mobile signal.
“But too many of us in South Yorkshire are still stuck in mobile ‘not spots’, where coverage drops out or disappears completely and that’s just not good enough.
“That’s why we’re working together to fix it - our project gives us the data we need to push for better coverage, so wherever we live, work or travel, we can all get the signal we need.
“It’s another step towards building a fairer, more connected South Yorkshire that’s fit for the future.”
