Reinstallment of Ballycastle mast 'only way' to address poor mobile coverage problem

THREE Ireland have stated that they will have to reinstate a communications mast on the site of the Old Garda Barracks in Ballycastle in order to restore mobile phone service in the north Mayo region.

A number of households around Ballycastle and Kilfian have been left without a mobile phone service following the decommissioning and removal of the Three mast from the Old Garda Barracks in Ballycastle.

A new mast was installed at a new location but as a result up to 14 households in the area were left without coverage.

The issue was raised by Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh who called on the Minister of State for Communications, Ossian Smyth to intervene on behalf of a number of households and restore the mobile phone coverage.

Three Ireland stated that their engineers have worked to try to find a solution to the problem but the only way to restore coverage to the households was to install a mast on the original mast site.

“The original mast site had to be decommissioned due to the termination of a landlord lease at the old Garda station, which was outside of Three’s control. Three then began a search for a new alternative site as quickly as possible to continue service in the area. An alternative site was located and set up but unfortunately as a result of the change of location, service has been affected for a small number of customers, who, as a result, have a right to exit their contract.

“Three’s engineers have been working on all possible solutions for this issue, including a site visit to local houses affected in the last week. Following these visits, Three has now concluded that all options available to it, and other telecommunications operators, are exhausted and the only way to adequately address the issue of connectivity to affected households is through reinstatement of the original mast site.

“Three is writing to the Office for Public Works, as the owner (on behalf of the State), of the original mast site, to advise on its findings and to see if they can support in re-establishing connectivity for the affected residents,” the statement read.