Four MPs are demanding action to improve Cumbria’s phone network resilience.
The MPs called electricity, telecoms and mobile network providers into Parliament after weaknesses in the network were exposed during recent storms.
Storm Eowyn saw thousands of homes across Cumbria without power for days and mobile phone masts were also affected.
In areas where home phones have been switched to digital, customers had no access to mobile or landline communications, leaving them unable to get updates or seek help.
The meeting, convened by Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister, was led by MPs Julie Minns, Markus Campbell-Savours and Michelle Scrogham and Cumberland councillor Gillian Troughton.
Electricity North West, Ofgem, BT / EE, Virgin Media O2, Vodafone and Three were all in attendance.
MPs asked telecoms providers to do more to support vulnerable customers who have had their landlines switched over to digital and called on mobile network operators to put battery back up units on more of their masts across Cumbria.
MPs also asked operators to set aside generators for masts during power cuts. Concerns were raised about the lack of data sharing so that vulnerable customers can be identified by providers and network operators.
Electricity North West also raised issues about not having data on mast locations for their network restoration planning during power cuts.
Josh said: “MPs called this meeting because we don’t think enough is being done to improve connectivity in rural areas of Cumbria or to respond quickly when issues occur, such as power cuts.
“We were clear that we want telecoms providers and mobile network operators to step up and invest in improving the resilience of the network, with things like battery back up at masts and more effort to identify and support vulnerable customers.
“We also want to see more data sharing across the system. This should be happening already.”
MPs will convene a further meeting in three months to check on progress.
