The issue of poor coverage – particularly 3G signals which are vital for smartphone internet access – has long been a problem in Suffolk.
Earlier this year, a petition launched by South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge in Boxford – which has no mobile phone signal in the village centre – was signed by more than 3,700 people.
Boxford missed out on government funding to improve mobile telephone infrastructure under its Mobile Infrastructure Project.
But now it has emerged that Telefonica has submitted a pre-planning application for a mobile phone base station on Hadleigh Road, near Boxford, which would provide improved 2G, 3G and 4G signal in the village and surrounding areas including Thorrington Street and Calais Street. Separately, an agent acting on behalf of one of the phone providers is looking at a possible mast on the sports fields owned by Boxford Community Council.
Community council chairman Ward Baker said both proposals were only in the very early stages and were awaiting feasibility studies. But Mr Cartlidge said the Boxford proposals were among a number of “positive developments” across the constituency. In addition, Glemsford residents are soon to be consulted on a proposal for a mast on the village sports ground and Vodafone has just launched 4G mobile phone coverage in Sudbury.
Mr Cartlidge added: “I launched my Better Mobile Signal for South Suffolk campaign in Boxford because it is one of the most notorious ‘not-spots’ in the constituency and I am delighted that Telefonica is hoping to address this issue with a brand-new mast. I recently met with some of their senior representatives to discuss the issues that we face and was encouraged to hear that they will be looking into a number of other problem areas in south Suffolk.
“Of course wherever a new mast is proposed, the standard planning process will apply and any specific site has to be appropriate. I am pleased that the providers are engaging with the local communities at these early stages, so that residents can express any site-specific concerns they may have.”
Published in the EADT.