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Opposition to expanding mobile phone coverage in the highlands. Do you agree?

  • September 18, 2024



The government is rolling out phone masts across the UK to counter reception 'dead spots' including in wilderness areas.

Many of the bodies that represent people who enjoy the mountains, like Mountaineering Scotland, are opposing this.

Here's a recent example of someone who nearly died because he couldn't call for help and was only found when he was lucky enough to find phone signal after being lost for a week.

Mountaineering Scotland and similar bodies should change their position on this issue and support the rollout. Do you agree?

BBC News – Missing walker who travelled from Newcastle to Highlands found – BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1534v3e7lgo

by Turbulent_Rhubarb436

31 comments

  1. I think we’ll have to push for 100% coverage if openreach are killing off the old landline system.

  2. Honestly it doesn’t bother me. I like the fact that kids play outside here coz our internet is too patchy and shit for 24/7 gaming and I like that they’re not constantly on TikTok at the bus stop coz the 4g is guff. 

  4. They should 100% roll it out. I’m sick to death of middle class hillwalkers who live in the Central Belt pitching a fit whenever something is going to be built in the Highlands because it might “ruin” their precious playground.

  5. I find a lot of those outdoor voluntary organisations are more interested in maintaining the purity of the hobby for the very invested people who are well off enough to take part in those organisations than they are interested in public safety.

    Phone coverage is a huge safety issue, I have seen some people say that it may be more feasible / cheaper to bet on / invest in satelite technology than trying to catch up with phone masts though. I havent seen much that swings it either way though

  7. Opposition to this is ridiculous. Being able to access help if you experience a problem in the wilderness removes a barrier to exploring and enjoying it. If an individual wants to disconnect, that’s their choice, but they should not gatekeep what others can and can’t do.

  9. If they oppose it then require that their members carry devices capable of Emergency SOS via satellite?

  10. You can disguise the towers fairly easily, if that’s the sole concern.

    There is no reason for there not to be near 100% phone coverage in this day and age.

  14. The concept of Scotland being “wild” that has been nurtured since the birth of tourism bringing people initially from England and now the world over has been deeply harmful to the development and wellbeing of the people and land in most of the country.

    There are places all over the world with similar topology that are vibrant, more populous, and well connected to the rest of their country and the world.

    This “wilderness” is often artificially maintained by owners of large tracts of land through tamping down of any reemergence of a natural ecology.

    The Scottish Government ought to tackle this and allow the wholistic development of our country so that we can all respectfully enjoy it, and combat this themepark Scotland that plays to the fantasies of those who do not actually live here.

  15. Why not use the masts that look like trees 🌲. You don’t have to build multi antennae masts. Also is it the locals complaining or the second home brigade?

  18. If you go to New Zealand, the coverage throughout both islands is almost immaculate. Don’t remember it being any less beautiful for it.

  20. I fully support a wider rollout of communications. The amount of times people have been stuck for days or even died out in the wilderness areas because they had no means of communication, a situation that could have been fixed within hours, had there been a wider communication network. Many masts can be disguised as trees or blended in with the environment and they don’t harm wildlife.

  22. It would be good if the masts could be camouflaged in some way. They could be screened but of course that costs money.

  23. Can’t believe no-one’s mentioned the satellite capability that all recent iPhones/android have/now have, where it can connect to a satellite & send txts & location, that’s the answer as no infrastructure needed – granted it doesn’t replace a mobile network; yet. Give it time.

  24. Disagree, if you are heading so far off the beaten track invest in the right kit.

    £150 for a GPS device that can call for help in an emergency, you don’t need a technology that’s loosely based on line of sight, you need something that will stay connected.

  26. Surprised by mountaineering Scotland’s alleged view on this.

    I think a bigger issue is ensuring those who live in the Highlands have decent service.
    _Realistically_ in this day and age anyone on a mountain top should have an emergency beacon of sorts and/or _at least_ a decent plan in place with a friend/family member check in lined up. 
    Practically, I realise that’s not the case, so if a side effect of connecting local settlements is better coverage in the hills, there’s no huge issue there.

  27. Full coverage needed for people who live and work in remote areas, not just visitors. My daughter needs to stretch out over the end of her jetty to get reception.

  28. Why in earth…fokks have died for want of a better signal. And I can’t imagine it helps business or growth not having it.

  29. Not sure why it’s up for discussion, mobile phone masts aren’t as obvious as wind turbines

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