A major survey using bin lorries and street sweepers to track mobile phone signals is helping to improve connectivity across some of the Liverpool City Region’s most popular visitor attractions.
Launched in March, the project fitted scanners to bin lorries operating throughout the city region, allowing mobile connectivity to be checked down to individual streets and feeding into a new free, interactive map.
The Combined Authority has since expanded the initiative to reach harder-to-access locations, including Knowsley Safari, the BrewDog Stadium in St Helens, Aintree Racecourse, the Southport Flower Show and the River of Light trail.
By identifying mobile ‘not-spots’ – areas where poor signal makes it difficult for visitors and residents to use their phones – the project aims to support the Combined Authority’s ambition to create the best digitally connected region in the UK.
Cllr Liam Robinson, Cabinet Member for Innovation at the Liverpool City Region, said:
“This is a smart, data-driven project that’s improving connectivity where it matters most – for our businesses, residents and the visitor economy. By mapping mobile coverage street-by-street, we’re helping people stay connected at home, on their commute and at major attractions and events across the city region.
“The map will be a useful tool for anyone looking to find the most suitable provider and the results of the survey could help businesses plan even better for big events.”
The signal-detection units were developed by mobile analysts Streetwave. Each device contains mobile phones linked to the three main UK networks: EE, O2 and Vodafone/Three. This enables detailed 4G and 5G mapping to show coverage and capacity at a hyperlocal level.
Most of the surveying has taken place using local authority waste collection vehicles, providing a cost-effective way to assess mobile coverage down to address level. For locations that cannot be reached by vehicles – such as beaches, footpaths or indoor destinations – trained volunteers have carried out walking surveys using portable units.
During Ladies Day at the Grand National festival in April, volunteers mapped connectivity around the Aintree course, with results set to help boost signal for next year’s event. Staff at Knowsley Safari also surveyed the park and drive-through route, using the findings to inform improvements around its animal enclosures.
Meanwhile, during this year’s River of Light, volunteers tracked network performance along the trail to understand how high visitor numbers can impact demand and signal quality.
Jon Turley, General Manager, Knowsley Safari, said:
“There is no better place to take a selfie than Knowsley Safari so we understand that our guests want to stay connected while they are here on site.
“We are set in 550 acres with a five-mile drive so it’s really important for us to know where our signal is great and where we have got not-spots so we can keep people connected.
“We are really excited to be part of the project and the staff and keeping teams were on board with the device. They took it around in their vehicles going about their day-to-day activities and others carried it in a backpack on the foot safari so that we could map that information around the signal.”
Alan Adams, General Manager, Southport Flower Show, said:
“Having strong mobile phone signal and coverage is essential for hosting successful events at Victoria Park. Reliable connectivity ensures smooth communication between event organisers, staff, vendors, and emergency services, while also enhancing the experience for visitors who expect to share their moments online and stay connected throughout the event. In today’s digital age, good coverage is not just a convenience—it’s a necessity for safety, coordination, and engagement.”
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