Mobile phone operators are being urged to share transmitter masts to increase network coverage in rural areas, under plans being discussed by the Government.
So-called 'not spots' - areas served by only some network operators where conversations cut-out mid call - could become obsolete if national roaming is introduced, according to ministers.
Phone users who roamed' from one network area to another would have their call transferred to the nearest available mast regardless of which mobile provider it belonged to.
A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: "The Government has made clear it wants to ensure the UK has world-class mobile phone coverage as part of our investment in infrastructure for the long term economic plan.
"We are investing up to £150 million to improve mobile coverage in areas where there is currently no coverage from any of the mobile network operators.
"Of course we want to look at what more can be done in areas with poor coverage."
The move would be good news for hundreds of thousands of people living in remote areas but could cause problems if mobile phone companies objected to sharing masts.
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