Mayor hosts industry leaders to drive better mobile connectivity in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Mayor hosts industry leaders to drive better mobile connectivity in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Paul Bristow, hosted mobile industry leaders and key stakeholders at a roundtable to explore how improvements to mobile coverage will underpin economic growth and support future development across the region. 

The event, organised by the Combined Authority’s digital connectivity programme partners Connecting Cambridgeshire, brought together mobile operators, representatives from Ofcom, MobileUK, Homes England, local business leaders and planning teams to discuss the challenges and opportunities for enhancing mobile coverage in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  

The event comes off the back of the Combined Authority’s Local Growth Plan (LGP), a roadmap to accelerating economic growth in the region. The Mayor wants to make Cambridgeshire & Peterborough the UK’s fastest growing local economy outside the capital.  

Reliable mobile connectivity is essential for supporting future housing developments, business growth, and innovation across the region. As the region continues to grow, supporting infrastructure such as mobile connectivity will be vital.  

Mayor Paul Bristow said: “The roundtable was really positive and focused on how we can unlock jobs and growth with improved mobile connectivity. Good mobile coverage isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s essential for businesses and communities, and for delivering our Local Growth Plan.  

“I’ll work with industry partners to boost mobile coverage in our area, making sure Cambridgeshire and Peterborough stays connected and competitive and remains a great place to live, work, and invest.” 

Sarah Marsh, Programme Director for Connecting Cambridgeshire, said: “This roundtable was a great opportunity to bring industry and local partners together to tackle the real-world challenges of mobile connectivity. Reliable 4G and the rollout of 5G are fundamental for residents and businesses, yet our independent surveys show gaps remain even in some larger towns.  

“By working collaboratively with mobile operators and stakeholders, we’re focused on closing those gaps and unlocking the benefits of advanced wireless technologies to support growth and innovation across Cambridgeshire.” 

The Combined Authority and Connecting Cambridgeshire will continue to collaborate with partners and mobile providers to ensure better digital infrastructure is in place to support the region’s future prosperity.