Mobile connections across Northumberland are expected to improve as the County Council is utilising innovative monitoring technology.

This tech, provided by network analysts Streetwave, will be carried by council refuse vehicles acting as travelling signal strength monitors.

With no additional tasks for these vehicles, they act as a roaming method to check mobile signal quality.

The iNorthumberland and Local Services teams at the Council are working together to gather data on coverage, speed, and signal quality.

With their efforts, they aim to offer mobile operators such as EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone essential insights, enabling them to accurately address connectivity challenges in these key areas.

Councillor Richard Wearmouth, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Services at Northumberland County Council, said: "This latest initiative highlights our commitment to ensuring that everyone in Northumberland has access to reliable and high-quality mobile connectivity.

“We know there is still a lot to be done in certain parts of the county, not only in our rural areas but also some of our urban areas too. It is hoped that by leveraging this latest technology, we can proactively identify areas with poor signal strength and work with mobile operators to roll out targeted improvements." This collaboration aims to minimise the digital divide, ensuring every community benefits from advancements in mobile technology.