Loss of mobile phone signal is causing major disruption for residents of Uig, Isle of Lewis and local politicians are calling on the mobile phone operator to take urgent action to resolve the situation.
Angus MacNeil MP and Alasdair Allan MSP have been in regular contact with EE over recent days and weeks after many constituents contacted them to report repeated disruption to the network in the Uig area.
The poor signal for EE customers is caused by ongoing works to upgrade the mast to a 4G service, however Mr MacNeil said customers have not been kept well informed and are becoming increasingly frustrated.
He said: “This situation with EE has been ongoing for several months now and my constituents are fed up by the lack of communication from the mobile phone operator.
“I understand that progress is expected to be made this week but I will be maintaining pressure on EE to sort this out and inform their customers.
“The mobile phone signal is so important to communities, particularly in the busy tourist season, and at the moment these communities are not getting the service they deserve and indeed the service which customers are paying for.”
Alasdair Allan MSP said: “To go a month without any mobile reception and to be given no clear idea of what the problem is or when it will be fixed is an intolerable situation to place Uig residents into, especially as we approach the height of the tourist season.
“EE need to update their customers in Uig and get this problem resolved as quickly as possible.”
John Maciver, Chair of Uig Community Council said: “The situation in Uig is nothing short of a shambles. We have had no mobile signal for almost a month without any information from EE to customers. At a peak time in the tourist season, we are very vulnerable should there be an emergency in such a remote community.”