Image source: Streetwave
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has launched a six-month project to map mobile coverage in the region using waste collection vehicles and street sweepers.
It involves the installation of measuring devices in the trucks and sweeper bins to assess the signal strength and data speeds of the four main service providers during their rounds.
Detection units comprising four mobile phones will be placed on board, each linked to one of the main four UK providers – EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone.
For inaccessible areas, such as beaches, paths and shopping centres, walking surveys will be done using portable units to measure connectivity.
The project, carried out with mobile analyst Streetwave, begins this month in Knowsley and will roll out across the five local authority areas in the city-region one by one. It is estimated that each council area will be mapped in four to six weeks.
It will produce an interactive map showing the detail of how the providers perform down to street level, with data on signal strength, upload and download speed, and the frequency being used (2G, 3G, 4G or 5G) It will also identify mobile ‘not spots’ in which efforts are needed to improve coverage and network capacity.
Digital connectivity priority
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said: “Any successful, modern city region needs first class digital infrastructure – and since I was elected mayor, I’ve made it a priority to make our region the most digitally connected area in the UK, already investing tens of millions of pounds in LCR Connect.
“Good mobile coverage isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity for work, travel, and daily life. But too many people still struggle with poor signal and slow data speeds.
“This initiative will give people across our region the information they need to choose the best provider for them – while helping us identify areas that need better coverage, so no community is left behind.”
A similar project was carried out last year in Nottinghamshire, leading to the launch of an interactive map showing which network companies provide high speed mobile signals in specific areas.
