Fleets of bin lorries are to be used to help close the gap on mobile phone ‘not-spots’ across the north of Scotland in a bid to improve connectivity for remote and rural locations.
The waste collection trucks will be equipped with specially-configured smartphones running continuous network tests to help monitor telecoms coverage across Moray, Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.
The information will be fed back to mobile phone network operators to identify areas where there is limited coverage and guide improvements to future solutions, especially in remote communities where digital exclusion is a significant issue.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “This is a really good example of the public sector working smart and making the most of existing resources to deliver positive change in an area which can face network challenges.
“This innovative and collaborative programme will not only help public bodies and communities make informed choices about networks but could also help guide future investment in mobile connectivity in the north of Scotland.”
It is proposed that the data will be made available to residents and businesses through a free coverage checker, provided by network analyst Streetwave, which will carry out the year-long programme, supported by Scottish Futures Trust. It is aimed at allowing users to make better informed choices about which mobile network provider to choose.
Streetwave has already spent the past few years harnessing waste collection trucks to map mobile network coverage and speeds across various parts of the UK.
The mapping exercise will be carried out using local councils’ fleets of bin lorries together with other council vehicles travelling along approximately 10,000 miles of roads to ensure thorough coverage of addresses in the three council areas.
Neil Rutherford, who leads the digital connectivity team at the Scottish Futures Trust, said: “Using bin lorries that already travel across our roads into all communities is a practical way of collecting reliable mobile data.
“By working with Streetwave and the local authorities to build our understanding of coverage across the country, in both rural and urban areas, we are establishing a strong understanding of mobile connectivity issues. It’s only by having the right data and the right digital tools can we work together to truly connect all of Scotland.”
