A new initiative is rolling out across the north of Scotland, harnessing an unlikely hero in the fight against mobile phone ‘not-spots’: bin lorries. The project, led by the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) and network analyst firm Streetwave, will see refuse trucks equipped with smartphones and special software to map 4G and 5G mobile coverage as they travel their daily routes through Moray, Aberdeenshire, and the Highland Council areas.
The aim is to provide the most accurate picture yet of mobile signal strengths, especially in rural and remote communities where digital exclusion remains a pressing issue. “The mapping exercise will be carried out using the Councils’ fleets of bin lorries together with other Council vehicles travelling along approximately every road and visiting almost every premise in the region,” SFT confirmed.
Streetwave’s system, already proven in other parts of the UK, involves installing off-the-shelf smartphones onto waste collection vehicles. These devices run continuous network tests every 20 metres in rural areas and every 5 metres in urban zones, collecting real-world data on signal strength and network speeds.
The information will be used to pinpoint coverage gaps and guide future investment in digital infrastructure.
An Argyll and Bute Council report highlighted the significance of the initiative, saying: “A detailed mobile coverage map would have huge benefits to our local communities where in some cases individuals and local businesses pay for a level of service that they cannot receive. It would also identify mobile signal coverage gaps to help inform and incentivise both Governments and private industry to commit further investment in digital infrastructure across Argyll and Bute. Ultimately this would help address people who are digitally excluded.”
The data gathered will not only support councils in lobbying mobile operators for improvements but will also be made available to the public via interactive coverage checkers, allowing residents and businesses to make informed choices about their mobile providers.
Councillor Owen O’Donnell, Leader of East Renfrewshire Council and Vice Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, noted, “By taking part in this important initiative we can help empower residents and businesses to make more informed choices on connectivity solutions to ensure they are getting the best possible service.”
This innovative approach is part of a wider push to close the digital divide in Scotland, ensuring that even the most remote communities can access reliable mobile coverage. As bin lorries continue their rounds, they’re not just collecting rubbish — they’re gathering the data needed to clean up Scotland’s mobile ‘not-spots’ for good.
