In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Found out where my 50,000 is from its the constituency area https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caithness,_Sutherland_...

Andrew, that's not the Highlands:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography_of_Scotland...

See the pop, and then click to see the map.

If a generally factual person such as yourself erred on the side of 50K, it might go a long way to explain why as the map gets further North, the South of the country gets less and less informed. My Mum used to say that the average Englishman can find Glasgow and Edinburgh on a map, as long as you don't show any other points of reference.

Back on topic.

Where I live there's 2G and 3G, and I estimate that some of the Fife coastal areas (e.g. Burnt Island) can get Edinburgh's 4G, but it's a side effect, rather than purposeful, as there's 4G interference to freeview being reported.

You can look at the map yourself:

http://studio.orange.co.uk/coveragechecker/

Lots of whilte as you head into the North of England, and masses of white North of the central belt. Also some white in Wales. Where do the coverage decision maker reside?

That map is a little hopeful!

It claims 3G at my Scottish residence ... NO way. I cannot even get voice on Orange or Vodafone and O2 is there on a good day!

As for going over the Cabrach - that is laughable!

Andrew, that's not the Highlands

Have they not left yet ?

The Cabrach is one of those places that in the summer, a mobile phone is unecessary, as it's such a beautiful place. In the winter, only a numpty would go near the Cabrach, so again, not needed (if you're a local).

The house is at the end of the Cabrach!

But if you break down up there - even in Summer, you can wait an hour between cars coming past. But then there is teh Grouse Inn! enough malts there to keep Seb happy for a few weeks.

My dad broke down one time, probably not all that far from the Cabrach. He had some stalking rights up near Tillypronie. The weather was terrible, and he made the call to the AA, got a tractor to tow him to the nearest hotel, and sat in the dining room, watching the poor AA guy fixing the car, while he ate hot food, and toasted his tootsies at the log fire.

Sod.

But still not 500,000 more like 200,000 people which is very spare given the number of sq km's

I think the issue is more to do with profit potential per sq km than any perceived north south divide

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

I think the issue is more to do with profit potential per sq km than any perceived north south divide

Well that's the bean counters' way of thinking. The gas and oil pipelines find their way South and to Europe from St Fergus, but the broadband and the roads to the North are less quick.

http://www.perthshireadvertiser.co.uk/perthshire-new...

While over in Cymru Twenty-three per cent of households in Wales are mobile-only, significantly more than the UK average of 15 per cent. because Openreach network, well realistically its not open for many and beyond reach for many more.

http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2013/08/01/wales-becoming-...