Residents in Waverley face connectivity issues as the council seeks government support for better mobile and broadband services
Waverley: Many folks in Waverley are having a tough time connecting to the internet. It’s like a dead zone for mobile and broadband in some areas.
The local council is reaching out to the government for help. They want to improve mobile and broadband services, especially in the rural spots where people feel left out.
With the old copper landlines being phased out, worries are growing. The council sent a letter to the Minister of State for Data and Digital Infrastructure asking for urgent assistance.
Right now, a lot of the borough has poor mobile service, which is a real hassle for small businesses and everyday life.
Broadband speeds in Waverley are lagging behind the national average. While 97.43% of residents have superfast connectivity, it’s still not enough.
In England, the figure is 98.3%, and the full fibre situation is even worse here, with only 65.56% compared to 73.8% nationally.
Liz Townsend, who handles planning and economic development for the council, is calling for action. She’s worried that rural areas are being overlooked during these digital rollouts.
She mentioned, “The lack of mobile coverage and broadband availability is seriously affecting our residents and local businesses.”
Waverley has a decent track record for rural start-ups, with 65 new businesses launched in December alone. But outside the busier towns like Farnham and Godalming, connectivity drops off quickly.
Jeremy Hunt, the local MP, is trying to get a clearer picture of the mobile coverage by launching a survey. He’s encouraging residents to share their experiences.
One big issue is that only Vodafone and EE have masts in the area. Other providers rely on Openreach, but the service isn’t meeting the minimum standards in some parts.
With the copper wiring set to be phased out by the end of the year, there are real fears that people might be left without coverage by January 2026.
Waverley is also seeing more “not-spots” popping up, and with new housing developments, the current network is going to be stretched even thinner.
“Despite promises from network providers, rural communities in Waverley feel abandoned. We need more support from the government to tackle these growing challenges,” Cllr Townsend added.
