Bin lorries out and about to find best mobile network in your area

Published: Monday 9 June 2025

staff standing in front of a bin lorry

Residents can now access a free, easy-to-use tool to find out which mobile networks provide the fastest speeds where they are.

The mobile coverage survey, the largest in Scotland, is currently being carried out across council areas within the Glasgow City Region with the assistance of bin lorries.

Bin lorries fitted with special equipment to gather data about the strength of signal from the UK’s four mobile operators, are doing so while moving from street to street emptying your bins. 

Residents can now see the signal strength that EE, Vodafone, Three and O2/Virgin Media offers within a 30-metre radius outside of their homes/businesses or places of interest.

As well as South Lanarkshire, the data is also being gathered in Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, and East Renfrewshire.

Residents and businesses that may be relocating, purchasing new mobile contracts, or looking to improve their access to mobile networks can now benefit from the tool.

To find out more about the mobile phone coverage please go to https://glasgowcityregion.co.uk/mobilephonecoverage/

Traditionally, mobile network providers have been the only ones to offer a checker, and they have been based on estimated measurements and their own modelling, which often does not reflect the reality.

The connectivity survey is independent and has gathered data that is based on actual on-street measurements.

The work which is part of the Glasgow City Region Smart and Connected Social Places programme, is funded through the UK Government Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 5G Innovation Regions programme. It is being delivered by leading connectivity solutions providers Streetwave and Commsworld.