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Broadband and communication

Information on how to get better home broadband, starting a community broadband project, broadband services, checking mobile phone coverage in your area and what to do if a telephone box is going to be removed.

How can I get better home broadband?

In the first instance, you should contact your current home broadband provider, as 
new service packages might be available and upgrades to the broadband infrastructure are being made on an ongoing basis. New equipment (e.g. routers) may also be available to improve performance.  

Your internet service provider should be able to advise you of any planned upgrades in your area. More information is also available on the Broadband East Riding project website. 

Broadband East Riding (external East Riding website)

Other types of broadband services, i.e. wireless or satellite, can also offer an alternative to traditional broadband services delivered through a telephone line. If you have a strong mobile phone signal, you may wish to consider using a mobile broadband package at home.

What is the Broadband East Riding Project??

The Broadband East Riding Project is part of the Government’s national broadband programme. It aims to upgrade the broadband infrastructure in the East Riding of Yorkshire in areas where investment is not already planned by the private sector, in particular to ensure that: 

  • superfast broadband (24 Mbps+) is available to the majority of residents and businesses by December 2017

  • a reliable broadband connection of at least 2Mbps is available across the whole of the East Riding by December 2017
  

BT has been appointed as the delivery partner for the project.  Broadband East Riding has a separate website containing the latest news about the project’s roll-out, including a link to enable residents to find out more information at a local post code level.

More details are available on the Broadband East Riding project website. 

Broadband East Riding (external East Riding website)

What are the benefits of better broadband? 

Fast and reliable broadband provides a wide range of benefits for individuals, families, communities and businesses, making all of these possible:

  • Better access to online services (e.g. banks, shops, health care provision)
  • Better access to new forms of media (e.g. Smart TVs/i-player)
  • Better access to learning materials for students and teachers
  • Reduced need for travel – more services can be accessed in the home or community          
  • Public sector service delivery efficiencies - more services can be delivered online
  • Increased business competitiveness
  • Improved infrastructure to attract jobs and provide local employment
  • Improved home working and self-employment opportunities
  • Social inclusion and improved quality of life.

Where can I find information about starting a community broadband project?

A number of innovative community broadband projects have been developed across the country.  If you are interested in starting a broadband project in your community you will be able to find out useful information for the Rural Broadband Partnership website.

Rural Broadband Partnership (external website)

For more information on starting a community broadband project, please contact us:

Email: broadband@eastriding.gov.uk

Does the council provide broadband services to residents or businesses?

Internet access is available to East Riding residents through our public library network, but the council does not provide broadband services to households or businesses. 

Please see the library computers section for more information. 

The Council is also co-ordinating the Broadband East Riding Project. For more information on the project please visit:

Broadband East Riding (external East Riding website)

Where can I find out about wireless or satellite broadband?

Wireless broadband and satellite broadband technologies offer alternatives to traditional broadband services delivered by fixed telephone lines. A number of companies already provide wireless or satellite broadband services in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

For more information on these technologies and to find out if you are eligible for a subsidy voucher to help cover the cost of installation, please see the Better Broadband scheme on the Broadband East Riding website:

Better Broadband Scheme - Broadband East Riding (external website)

How can I check the mobile phone coverage in my area?

Ofcom have developed a website which shows the predicted coverage for mobile phone (calls/and or data) across the whole country, for each of the four UK mobile network providers (EE,O2,Three and Vodafone). The information is updated regularly.  Ofcom welcomes feedback from consumers regarding the information contained in the website.

Ofcom Mobile Coverage (external website)

Additionally, each mobile network provider also has an online coverage checker which can be accessed via the UK Mobile Coverage website link below.

UK Mobile Coverage - coverage checker (external website) 

Where can I find out about 4G mobile technology?

4G is the latest generation of mobile phone technology, offering faster Internet services via mobile phones and other devices. 

The commercial rollout of 4G technology has now commenced.  Whilst the initial rollout has concentrated on UK cities, mobile network operators are beginning to roll out 4G to rural areas and it is expected that almost the whole of the UK population will be able to receive a 4G mobile signal by the end of 2017.  

For more information about 4G technology please visit:

Ofcom - consumer information on 4G mobile technology (external website)

Where can I find more information for consumers?

Ofcom is the national regulator of the communications sector and their remit includes mobile connectivity, broadband and fixed line telecoms.

Ofcom has produced helpful guidance for consumers on a range of issues, including; broadband speeds, switching providers, mobile internet, online security, maximising mobile coverage, how to manage nuisance calls, as well as a call cost guide and using your phone aboard.

For further information, help & advice with your phone, broadband, TV, radio and postal services visit the Ofcom website.

Ofcom for consumers (external website)

What can I do if a public telephone box is due to be removed?

Telephone companies have to follow national rules if they want to remove any public telephone boxes, and the public have the opportunity to object. Many people still rely on public telephone boxes, and they are particularly important in areas where mobile phones do not work well.

Telephone companies are required to display a notice on any telephone box that they plan to remove. Members of the public have 42 days in which to raise an objection if they wish to do so. Further details on the consultation process will be available on the notice displayed in the telephone box.