Economic growth in rural areas is being put at risk due to poor mobile network coverage, according to a leading business organisation.

The CLA South East, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses across Kent, hit out after welcoming the government's recent announcement it planned to increase connectivity in the countryside.

But it warned economic growth was being put at risk due to the failure to recognise 4G must first be available to all before the rollout of even faster 5G mobile connectivity.

In July, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said mandatory full fibre broadband for all new build homes and a new priority to connect hard-to-reach rural areas are key measures proposed in a national, long-term strategy for UK telecommunications.

But CLA senior rural business adviser Dr Charles Trotman said: “We welcome the government’s intention to connect hard-to-reach rural areas. The future of the rural economy depends on fast, affordable and reliable connections. However, we need to see fully developed details as to why the full fibre broadband rollout should take 15 years to complete and where the money is coming from.

“Many rural areas fall short of a 4G service due to the inability of mobile network operators to resolve poor signal and mobile not-spots. Rural business must not be side-lined. It is vital that 4G coverage is put in place first because a future 5G service relies on 4G infrastructure.

“We support the government ambition to deliver mobile coverage to 95% of UK geographic landmass by the end of 2022. One of the ways to do this is to hold to account mobile phone operators to ensure they invest in a better connected countryside.

"By engaging all of the industry in the process and ensuring landowners’ rights are fairly balanced, we can finally ensure 4G for all.”