Debate contribution: Mobile Phone Coverage: West Belfast

Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on 20 May 2025.

MLA

Dr Caoimhe Archibald

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

20 May 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Adjournment

Heading

Mobile Phone Coverage: West Belfast

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4964629

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

I thank the Member for securing this Adjournment debate and welcome the opportunity for this discussion. I very much recognise the frustration of poor coverage. Like Deborah, I live in a rural area where coverage is very patchy indeed. I also recognise the reliance that many people place on their mobile phone. Many, including me, no longer have a landline. There is not just an expectation but a need for good-quality coverage. The examples that have been given by Members highlight people's reliance and the impact of not having decent coverage. Affordable, reliable and secure digital connectivity is absolutely essential to citizens and businesses. The availability and exchange of information that is afforded by telecommunications ensures that citizens and businesses are connected within communities and with the wider world. It is essential for our everyday lives and long-term prosperity, as Members have mentioned. Modern society simply demands reliable and fast communication networks to drive economic activity and to allow citizens to keep in touch, stay safe, access public services and participate in modern society. Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, publishes mobile coverage measurements in its 'Connected Nations' report. Coverage here is reported as one of the best in these islands, so it is really concerning to hear of the issues in West Belfast. Ofcom relayed high and very high levels of confidence for outside premises 5G coverage here. It also reports that, overall, 4G geographic coverage is widely available. That having been said, people's actual experience does not always match up to reported coverage, and, clearly, in this case, it does not. Ofcom is currently taking steps to improve the accuracy of coverage reporting. In the wireless infrastructure strategy, Ofcom has been tasked with continuing to hold the mobile network operators to account through on-the-ground signal testing and to improve the accuracy of its coverage reporting through increased use of crowdsourced data. I understand that Ofcom has developed proposals to improve coverage reporting, and I met Ofcom representatives recently to discuss their proposed improvements and several other local related issues regarding telecommunications. I raised this particular issue. While mobile infrastructure roll-out is delivered on a purely commercial basis here, my officials participate in a number of activities to help to support investment in telecoms infrastructure and to facilitate improvements in connectivity. They coordinate the barrier busting task force, which is the delivery vehicle for the mobile action plan developed to identify the barriers to fast and efficient deployment of mobile infrastructure and the practical actions that could be taken to create the right environment to encourage further investment in its roll-out. Officials are also investigating potential alternative funding streams to establish their viability for extending and improving mobile connectivity here in the North.

As has been discussed throughout the debate, mobile network operators report that vandalism and damage to mobile masts and equipment is a key cause of reduction in service in West Belfast. I urge the perpetrators of that unlawful and dangerous behaviour to stop so that the West Belfast community can avail itself of reliable mobile connectivity. It is quite simply unacceptable to endanger life and property through wanton acts of vandalism and arson. Communities should not be subjected to the risks and consequences that are experienced when essential equipment is damaged. Any damage to mobile infrastructure is costly to repair or replace, and has the potential to inhibit operators' ability to invest in improvements. I am aware of a survey of West Belfast residents that has recently been conducted by my party colleagues. Results indicate that there is a direct correlation between the mast attacks and the level of service that is available. The emergency services have used valuable resources to attend those attacks. I understand that residents, local businesses, leisure facilities, on-call nurses and taxi companies in particular, have all been impacted on. It is completely unacceptable. I share the frustration of the West Belfast community, who have been severely inconvenienced. Digital connectivity is an enabler for many of the Executive's economic priorities. It is essential that we are able to realise the same benefits here from mobile connectivity that we have for our excellent fixed-line connectivity. I am happy to engage with my officials, who will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that residents and businesses can avail themselves of world-class connectivity. I am sure that my officials would be happy to engage with local elected representatives. I recognise the concern that has been raised, including by Aisling, that those issues predate some of the attacks. It is important that we understand all the challenges that are being faced with regard to those issues. I am, of course, happy to engage with my counterparts in the British Government to highlight the issue and the frustration of the local community. We can all continue to work together. I am more than willing to work with my Executive colleagues to overcome some of the challenges that we face with the roll-out of the type of high-class mobile infrastructure that we need.

843 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:33 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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