O2 improves poor mobile coverage

O2 improves poor mobile coverage

21 February 2018

A LEADING mobile telecommunications company has been praised for its work to significantly improve its coverage in the Downpatrick and wider Lecale areas.

O2 engineers recently repaired a damaged radio transmitter which services the Killough area after concerns about poor coverage were raised with senior company officials by local councillor Gareth Sharvin.

Work to repair the transmitter started last December after a large number of customers reported problems with their mobile signal, which resulted in a meeting to discuss the issue between Cllr Sharvin and O2 chief executive Mark Evans.

“The poor signal was challenging for residents who were concerned they could not make contact with anyone in the event of an emergency situation arising,” the Downpatrick councillor explained.

“I held several meetings with O2 officials over the course of several weeks to discuss the issue before the specialist engineers were deployed to fix the problem.”

Cllr Sharvin explained that after the improvement to the signal in Killough, it quickly became apparent that other areas were experiencing similar problems. He said in total, he was contacted by around 250 people with poor mobile services.

He continued: “With such an impact on daily life, I organised a meeting with O2 executives in London to discuss the challenges being faced by residents and to task for an action plan to resolve them. The company was very supportive to address issues in Chapeltown, Ardglass, Coney Island, Killough, Rossglass and Minerstown.

“Also from this meeting, a number of actions were identified and completed by O2 to assess where the signal is being impacted on and what needed to be done to fix the issue.”

Thanking O2 for its work, Cllr Sharvin said the resolution of the issues highlighted that working in partnership can achieve success.

He added: “I have since spoken with the majority of people who contacted me and from direct feedback on the doorstep, the mobile signal across all villages and hamlets has dramatically improved.

“However, as I have said previously, if there are other areas within the Downpatrick and Lecale area that have poor mobile signals, please get in touch and I will work with that mobile provider to have the matter resolved.”