ARGYLL and Bute Council has become the first local authority in Scotland to launch an area-wide mobile coverage survey.

As part of a partnership project with the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), network analysts Streetwave will survey mobile connectivity across more than 2,500 km of road network in Argyll and Bute, including mainland and island areas.

The Council's Digital Exclusion Fund, established to assist communities outside any commercial or government programme in securing a Superfast Broadband (SFB) connection, is supporting the initiative.

The fund is match funded by SFT.

The mapping exercise will be carried out using the council’s fleet of bin lorries, ensuring comprehensive coverage of every address.

Volunteers will use portable data collection units to measure connectivity in more remote areas, including islands, farms, and walking routes.

This unique approach is expected to provide unparalleled insight into mobile network performance, including signal strength, upload and download speeds, and the frequency (2,3,4 or 5G) an area is using.

Councillor Math Campbell-Sturgess, the council’s policy lead for business, said: "This is a ground-breaking initiative that will be of huge benefit to our communities.

"A reliable mobile phone signal is vital, especially in some of our more remote locations.

"By gathering precise data on mobile network performance, we can better address digital exclusion and push for essential coverage improvements, ensuring connectivity for all our residents and businesses, no matter their location."

The collected data will be made available to residents and businesses through Streetwave’s free coverage checker, helping them make informed choices about the best mobile networks in their area.