Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell has welcomed plans by mobile companies to improve coverage within his constituency.
The MP has long campaigned for improved mobile coverage within his large rural constituency.
Now O2 have told the local MP that their plans for Tweeddale, Dumfriesshire and Clydesdale include an agreement with Vodafone to share the existing sites for network coverage masts.
Both O2 and Vodafone have been working on this project for some time and this scheme will help to minimise the effect on the environment by not needing to find new sites to locate a network mast, said Mr Mundell.
He added that by sharing existing sites with Vodafone O2 could get their coverage improved more quickly than if they had to apply for planning permission and land rental agreements to locate a new mast in a new location.
The company have also told Mr Mundell that they will also investigate the possibility of new sites for O2 masts in the Scottish Borders, Dumfriesshire and Clydesdale and hope this will be another way to improve network coverage for customers. They have also said that with the introduction of 4G capability across the UK in the coming months customers in Mr Mundell’s constituency will start noticing improvements by the end of this year up to the early to middle part of 2014.
The local MP said this week: “Naturally, in rural communities the issue of mobile and broadband reception is frequently raised. Given its importance in modern life, it is not acceptable for rural communities to be excluded from the rollout of the latest technology and I will continue to campaign for improvements to services throughout my constituency.
Mr Mundell added: "It is important that those living and working within my rural constituency deserve the same quality of broadband and mobile services as other places.
“Given its importance in modern life, it is not acceptable for rural communities to be excluded from new technology and I will continue to campaign for improvements to services throughout Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale," added Mr Mundell.