Campaign to end mobile blackspots in Cavan and Monaghan
CALL Get Connected urges people to get involved in initiative
A new initiative launched this week aimed at improving connectivity for communities in Cavan and Monaghan who are suffering from poor mobile phone coverage.
Get Connected is seeking to improve mobile coverage and end the "scourge of mobile blackspots" by asking service users in the community to get involved in the campaign.
Get Connected is being supported by Cellnex, a telecoms infrastructure operator with over 1,700 telecoms sites around the country. The programme has already successfully launched in four counties and is being extended to Cavan and Monaghan with plans to roll it out across all 26 counties.
The objective is to mobilise support within communities to participate in the planning and delivery of mobile connectivity in their local areas. Get Connected is officially launching a ‘Community Call’ through its website - www.getconnected.ie
To initiate a review, which will be carried out by Cellnex at no cost to residents, communities should seek to mobilise a group of people who have a shared interest in getting improved coverage, and then nominate a single point of contact to make a submission to Get Connected. Cellnex will then carry out a detailed survey to assess the area’s suitability and work to deliver a feasible solution.
Recent research from ComReg shows that three in four people (73%) strongly value being able to access and use their mobile phone during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The same study revealed that one in four households (27%) find mobile broadband insufficient for home working.
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, said: “Improved telecommunications and broadband infrastructure are priorities for the Government and we welcome this approach that empowers communities who are facing challenges. With the requirement to work from home and home school during the pandemic, these issues have taken on an even greater priority. Any initiative that improves mobile connection speeds and avoids dropped calls or poor reception is going to benefit the people of Cavan and Monaghan.”
George Hamilton, treasurer of Cootehill Chamber of Commerce said: “Cavan and Monaghan have so many areas which are great places to live, work and do business. Communities and businesses around Cootehill have shown remarkable resilience throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, however appropriate connectivity for mobile phone signal and wireless broadband remains an issue for many rural communities in the area and the wider Cavan-Monaghan region. Get Connected can bring improved connectivity to those who need it most, and I look forward to the impact this initiative can have.”
Cellnex Ireland managing director Colin Cunningham said the project represents a “real opportunity" for people to come together to support better connectivity for their area.
"We have already been approached by communities all over the country who have seen the success of the programme’s launch in other counties and want to join in and, from today, that will be possible in Cavan and Monaghan.
"Cellnex is giving communities the firm promise that we will work with them to try to ensure that they get the infrastructure that they need. I hope that local communities will take this opportunity to seek an improved service and work with us to deliver solutions for their areas to end the problem of coverage blackspots.”
Cellnex has invested almost €35m in the construction of over 200 new sites across Ireland in the past five years.