Poor mobile phone reception in parts of Llandudno and rural communities across North Wales could be among the issues addressed by calls for changes to planning rules governing mobile infrastructure.

Clwyd MS Darren Millar has called on the Welsh Government to explain what progress is being made to tackle mobile not-spots, arguing that Wales risks falling behind other parts of the UK as planning rules elsewhere are changed to make it easier to upgrade networks.

Unreliable mobile coverage can affect residents trying to make calls, businesses relying on digital services and people needing access to online information. In rural areas, where fixed-line broadband can also be slow, the lack of a dependable mobile connection may leave households and businesses with few alternatives.

Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Millar said reliable mobile coverage was essential for communities, businesses and public services, particularly in rural Wales.

He said the Welsh Government had acknowledged that planning complexity could be a barrier to improving infrastructure and had been gathering evidence from mobile operators about potential changes.

He is now asking ministers to set out what progress has been made and whether further changes to permitted development rights are being considered.

These rights allow certain developments to proceed without a full planning application, although some telecommunications work remains subject to a prior approval process.

There has been progress in improving connectivity. The UK-wide Shared Rural Network programme has helped extend 4G coverage into previously poorly served areas, while Ofcom continues to report improvements in mobile and full-fibre broadband availability across Wales.

However, national coverage figures do not guarantee a reliable signal at every property or location. Hills, valleys, buildings and network congestion can all affect performance, while mobile coverage and fixed-line broadband remain separate issues requiring different solutions.

Telecommunications policy is largely the responsibility of the UK Government, but the Welsh Government has powers over planning in Wales, giving it a role in determining how some mobile infrastructure can be installed or upgraded.

Any changes to planning rules would not automatically resolve every coverage problem. Operators would still need to invest in equipment and identify suitable sites, but the debate centres on whether planning procedures can be made less of an obstacle to improvements.

Mr Millar said Wales should not fall behind other parts of the UK when it came to upgrading mobile and digital infrastructure.

For communities across North Wales, the issue is how to ensure that better connectivity reaches the places where residents and businesses still struggle to get a dependable connection.