It’s taken a while, but finally mobile telephone firm EE has confirmed its Newtown network is now operating as full 4G.
But where are the other operators who have promised to upgrade their networks in the area?
Montgomeryshire AM, Russell George, who has campaigned for better mobile and broadband coverage in the area, welcomed confirmation about the EE network and said it must now be rolled out throughout Montgomeryshire.
4G is the fourth generation of wireless mobile technology. A 4G signal allows faster mobile web access.
This follows a long campaign and 12 months after Mr George convened a community meeting in Newtown with all mobile network operators to discuss the measures which are needed to make progress on providing coverage in rural areas of Mid Wales.
Mr George said: "I'm delighted that EE have finally made improvements to coverage in the Newtown area. This has been a long time coming and is a welcome step in the right direction, and I’m going to be asking residents in the area to provide me with feedback.
"However, while Newtown has finally been brought into the 21st Century, there are countless communities across Montgomeryshire which still suffer from a total lack of coverage and are still waiting for a basic service, so the campaign must go on to ensure that we have universal mobile coverage across Mid Wales.
Mr George recently led a debate in the National Assembly on digital connectivity, during which he called on the Welsh Government to use the devolved levers at its disposal and work with the regulator and network operators to promote telecoms infrastructure investment and network deployment.
Mr George added: "It appears as though the Welsh Government is constantly playing catch up as both the Scottish Government and UK Government have already taken action in this area.
"The Scottish Government doesn’t seem to have any additional powers to the Welsh Government, yet they have put in place a Mobile Action Plan which commits to rate relief for new mobile masts in non-commercial areas; reform of the planning system to support investment in mobile infrastructure; improving public sector assets for the telecoms industry and various forms of collaborative work with the telecoms industry.
"The UK Government has also implemented proposals making it easier to upgrade existing sites and build new masts, where there is community consent to do so, but in spite of representations from the mobile network operators, the Welsh Government has been slow to act in reforming Permitted Development Rights in the planning system and is way behind both England and Scotland.
"So, in welcoming the news that the people of Newtown are now able to benefit from an improved service on the EE network, the campaign must go on to ensure that everyone in Montgomeryshire can benefit from a service which people in urban parts of the country now take for granted."
