Why has mobile phone coverage become ‘shockingly bad’ in parts of Lerwick?

Mobile signal in Bruce Crescent is reported to be poor. Photo: Google.

Councillors are seeking answer as to why mobile phone signal has dropped in parts of Lerwick.

Bruce Crescent resident Jonathan Duncan highlighted the problem at last night’s (Tuesday) Lerwick Community Council.

He said many of his neighbours had raised their concerns with him.

“For one of the most densely populated residential areas in Shetland, I find it quite strange there’s no phone signal,” he said.

“It’s shockingly bad.”

Mr Duncan said the problem seemed to be affecting customers on all networks

.And his fellow councillors said the issue was more widespread, affecting North Lochside and the town centre too.

Lerwick North and Bressay member Gary Robinson jokingly suggested the problem may be related to the council’s refusal of plans for a mobile mast.

“The last I heard, they were looking at one on the Ward of Bressay but they cancelled whatever they were going to do,” he added.

Community councillor Amanda Hawick said one of her recent guest house visitors had worked on a 4G mast.

She said her guest told her the move to 4G meant 3G was being switched off and this was to the “detriment” of Shetland.

Ms Hawick said she had changed her sim card to an electronic sim, or e-sim, and that had made an “amazing” difference.

However, council chairman Jim Anderson said his phone had a regular sim and an e-sim and “ultimately there’s no difference between them”.

The Shetland Times has asked Openreach and EE whether they were aware of any work on the Shetland mobile network, which may have affected coverage.