SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, last night held a public meeting in Uig in Lewis to discuss the widespread and damaging effects of the continued mobile signal and 4G problems across the area. The meeting was attended by over 80 members of the community.

For three weeks, the local MSP has been pressuring EE to urgently resolve the issues affecting its network all over Uig, highlighting the impact the signal outage is having on local businesses, people working from home, and on essential services. Most premises are fully reliant on EE’s 4G signal for their broadband provision, with superfast broadband not currently due to be installed in the area until 2028.

EE have indicated that repairs to one of the affected masts in Uig last Thursday was “not fully successful” and that additional repairs would be carried out by engineers over the next two days.

Commenting, Allan said:

“The Uig community is rightly frustrated by the continued disruption to mobile signal and 4G in the area. Still to be in this position after more than a month is completely unacceptable.

“I have had constituents in touch with me who are very worried about losing their jobs due to not being able to be online when required; local businesses are seriously considering relocating elsewhere; vital services like the medical practice, community shop and local school are unable to operate effectively without 4G signal.

“The high attendance at last night’s meeting left no room for doubt as to the strength of community feeling on this issue, and people feel EE do not fully appreciate how completely the community remains cut off while they await a resolution. To take just one example, people seeking to pick up a prescription currently face a fifty mile round trip.

“EE must redouble their efforts firstly to fully and quickly repair their mast issues, but must also urgently commit to a clear plan of how they will be investing in and upgrading their local infrastructure, as it is clearly not fit for purpose at present.”