SOUTH Down MLA Seán Rogers (SDLP) has met with the Northern Ireland Director of OFCOM and discussed a variety of issues ranging from poor TV signal in the Mournes, roaming charges, mobile coverage and accessibility to Broadband in rural areas such as Drumaroad, Rathfriland and Cabra.
Mr Rogers said: “We had a constructive meeting with Ofcom which provided an overview in terms of where we are with Communications in the North and their plans to combat areas of social exclusion.
“The first issue discussed related to the problems some of my constituents in the Glassdrumman/Annalong areas have been experiencing over the past 6 months. They regularly receive no Terrestrial TV signal at all so were unable to access the main channels. Ofcom agreed to look into this issue in tandem with the BBC and report back.
“We also discussed the Broadband ‘not spots’ and also the areas that have very slow broadband. These are areas that are being closely examined at present with a view to improving coverage. DETI are currently running a consultation on the NI Broadband Improvement Project. So if you live in a not spot or simply wish to report slow broadband speed, please contact my office in advance of the 16 August deadline. “
Laura Devlin, Constituency Manager for Seán Rogers MLA) said: “It was interesting to hear of the advances being made with a view to tackling the inadvertent roaming charges. We have all been driving through the likes of Warrenpoint and all of a sudden our phones are feeding off the Southern network with the associated costs that this brings. This is something which is being examined at a European level and I look forward to the day when such charges are drastically reduced or even better no longer permissible.”
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