Whether people are accessing public services, making payments, keeping in touch with family or travelling for work, reliable mobile coverage underpins everyday life.
That’s why Consumer Scotland has welcomed regulator Ofcom's consultation on mobile network performance with proposals for a clearer measure of connectivity, and a new benchmark that would see consumers achieve good mobile performance that supports the use of everyday apps and services, nine out of 10 times.
A significant opportunity to improve connectivity
A key benefit of the proposed approach is that, because it focuses on whether people can use every day apps and services successfully, the measure is more closely linked to real-world consumer experiences.
The proposed 90% performance benchmark also represents a substantial improvement on current levels of mobile performance at 76%. Improved connectivity can make day-to-day activities such as video streaming, online shopping, digital communication and card payments more reliable for consumers and small businesses.
However, while Consumer Scotland welcomes the UK level benchmark this alone may not be enough to ensure all consumers benefit equally.
Why a Scottish benchmark matters
Scotland faces particular challenges in delivering mobile connectivity. Its large geographic area, rural communities and island populations make it more difficult and expensive to provide consistent coverage.
Scotland has the lowest 5G and 4G geographic coverage range of all four UK nations and also suffers from the highest incidence of 4G total not-spots which affect 9% of its landmass compared with a UK average of 4%.
There is a risk that a single UK-wide benchmark could mask differences in performance between nations. While the overall UK average may improve, consumers in areas that already face connectivity challenges could see slower progress.
To address this, Consumer Scotland is recommending that consideration is given to the introduction of a Scottish benchmark – and benchmarks for the other devolved nations - alongside the overall UK measure. Setting a performance measure for Scotland in this way would help ensure improvements are delivered fairly and that Scottish consumers are not left behind as national averages improve.
This approach would not replace UK-wide ambitions. Instead, Scottish benchmarks would provide an additional level of accountability, helping Ofcom track whether progress is being made across all parts of the country and ensuring that Scotland's specific circumstances are reflected in future decision-making.
Supporting connectivity in rural and island communities
The case for a Scottish benchmark is particularly strong in rural and island areas, where connectivity gaps remain more common and where resilient communications infrastructure is especially important.
Mobile connectivity is not simply a convenience. In remote communities it can be essential for accessing services, supporting local businesses, maintaining social connections and, in some circumstances, contacting emergency services.
We therefore welcome that in its recent response to the UK Government’s statement of strategic priorities for telecommunications, Ofcom has confirmed that supporting rural connectivity is a priority issue within the development of the UK’s digital infrastructure.
Looking ahead
Improving mobile connectivity will require action from Ofcom, network operators, local authorities and governments. Providing better information for consumers, setting ambitious performance expectations that reflect local conditions and needs and ensuring progress is measured fairly across all nations of the UK will all be important parts of that effort.
Introducing Scottish benchmarks alongside a UK-wide measure can help ensure that consumers in Scotland share fully in the benefits of better mobile connectivity, regardless of where they live.