UK chancellor George Osborne has announced plans to invest up to £150 million on sites for mobile phone masts and base stations in a bid to improve productivity and connectivity. He’s aiming to provide mobile phone coverage to 99% of the country, giving 6 million people a better signal. In a speech to the Conservative Party Conference he said there is currently 95% coverage across the UK, with only 90% of the population having good mobile coverage in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Ofcom will be responsible for spending the cash under the direction of the government. Full details about the scheme, including criteria for choosing a site and spending the money, are still unconfirmed.