Mobile phone customers in East Anglia are more likely to suffer from mobile “not spots” than anyone else in the UK according to a new survey.

According to the survey by specialist website cable.co.uk more than half mobile phone users in the region suffer from losing connection in “not spots” at least once a week.

The 56.5% of customers who suffer from this problem is the largest figure in the country. The survey also shows that 28% of East Anglian phone users suffer from the problem on a daily basis.

The north west of England is the area where fewest mobile customers encountered “not spots” on a weekly basis.

Dan Howdle from cable.co.uk said: “The UK mobile networks claim UK coverage of 99% plus. Anyone with a mobile phone can confirm their own experience doesn’t tally up.

“That’s because the 99% refers to population rather than to square mileage of the UK landmass. While there are few great, gaping holes in the UK coverage map as a whole, there are countless pinprick locales where no signal exists and, as our report suggest, many of us disappear into them with alarming frequency.”

The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership has been working with businesses to try to ensure better mobile coverage across Suffolk and Norfolk.

LEP managing director Chris Starkie said the research was frustrating but not unexpected: “Having a decent mobile signal is as vital to business as fast broadband and better road and rail connections.

“But we know our service is not as good as it should be, which is why we are lobbying Government and providers very hard to accelerate investment and upgrades to networks across Suffolk and Norfolk.”

South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge has been trying to improve mobile phone coverage in his constituency but has found the issue can sometimes be very difficult to push through.

He said: “My first question to the Prime Minister was on this subject and he assured me the government was working to improve coverage with three new masts in the constituency.

“One of these, at Bildeston, is going ahead but the other two are not. In at least one case – Boxford – that seems to be as a result of local opposition even though the vast majority of residents want a better mobile signal.”