BIN lorries will be used in a scheme to map mobile phone signal strength across Glasgow.

The vehicles that go into every residential street in the city to empty bins are being fitted with devices to monitor the signal strength all over the city.

The data will produce a map that will show the strength of signal from the UK’s four mobile operators, street by street while people’s bins are being emptied. 

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The info gathered will be used by the council to identify areas that have little or no mobile coverage and data will be used to lobby providers to make wireless technology improvements to allow individuals and organisations to make informed decisions about which providers to choose.

Residents will be able to see the signal strength that EE, Vodafone, Three and O2/Virgin Media offer within a 30-metre radius outside of their homes/businesses.

The project will create a free tool for people to understand which mobile networks provide the fastest speeds outside their homes, businesses or other locations of interest.

It is part of a package of funding for IT projects aimed at using digital technology to transform social care and improve public sector services.

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The Innovation Fund is also supporting 11 local projects in the Glasgow City Region, with funding between £10,000 and £100,000.

The projects are aimed at improving services and quality of life for people living across the Glasgow City Region.

The 5G Programme extension will focus on two key Smart Social Housing and Social care projects which include connected sensors to monitor damp, mould, and heating in social homes, and digital technologies, such as smart speakers, to support care and wellbeing services for vulnerable people and improve digital inclusion.

Susan Aitken, chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet and Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “Glasgow City Region has always been at the forefront of technology and innovation and I’m delighted to see how the creative use of digital technology is improving lives.

“The extension to our 5G innovation programme is already helping local people to live more independently, improving public services for tenants and giving residents and businesses access to data to help make more informed choices about technology.”