Bin lorries to play important part in Scotland’s largest mobile connectivity study

The local authority’s refuse vehicles are being used to gather vital information about the strength of signal from the UK’s four mobile operators. 

The vehicles host equipment which means while they travel street by street to empty bins, they can gather the data for a new interactive ‘coverage checker’ map.  

The data will help support communities and businesses throughout the area by identifying areas that have little or no mobile coverage. The data will be used to lobby providers to make wireless technology improvements to allow individuals and organisations to make informed decisions about which providers to choose. It will also help boost public and private sector service delivery. 

There will be a particular focus on looking at ways to improve connectivity for the health and social care sector with staff and service users increasingly using mobile devices to carry out work and access support.  

There will be no interruption to the waste collection services as the technology allows for the detail to be gathered as the teams go about their usual work.   

West Dunbartonshire is the latest authority in the Glasgow City Region to support the initiative, which was first launched in Inverclyde at the end of last year. It will be rolled out to North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, and East Renfrewshire in the coming weeks and months. 

The work is part of the Glasgow City Region Smart and Connected Social Places programme. It is funded through the UK Government Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 5G Innovation Regions programme and is being delivered by leading connectivity solutions providers Streetwave and Commsworld. 

West Dunbartonshire Council Leader, Councillor Martin Rooney, said: “A reliable internet connection is a vital tool in the everyday life of our citizens whether at home, work or out and about in our communities. 

“It is important that we use the technology at our disposal to learn about connectivity and, in particular, areas where there could be better signals. 

“It is exciting for West Dunbartonshire to be one of the first Councils to install this equipment which will help benefit people across our communities.”  

Director of Regional Economic Growth, Kevin Rush said: “This is the biggest network mapping project of its kind in Scotland - so it goes without saying that it’s a hugely exciting one to be part of.  

“Being connected has never been more important and this project will give the partnership and, most importantly, the people and businesses throughout the City Region the tools they need to ensure they are getting the best possible service.” 

The new coverage checker, which will be rolled out at a later date and after data is collected, will allow people to find the provider with the strongest mobile signal for their address. 

People will be able to see the signal strength that EE, Vodafone, Three and O2/Virgin Media offer within a 30-metre radius outside of their homes/businesses. 

In collaboration with Streetwave, a leading connectivity solutions provider, the project will utilise cutting-edge technology to assess mobile network and LoRaWAN coverage across the region. This groundbreaking initiative marks a significant step forward in understanding and improving connectivity in the UK. 

For more information and updates on the rollout of the coverage checker in each of the participating councils, visit https://glasgowcityregion.co.uk/mobilephonecoverage/