MP tells ministers “juicy things” before calls drop

María Rut Kristinsdóttir, acting chair of the Viðreisn parliamentary group, says she uses dropped calls to draw attention to poor mobile coverage in rural Iceland. She described the tactic in Dagmál, a programme by mbl.is, while discussing infrastructure with fellow MP Ingveldur Anna Sigurðardóttir.

“I often call both Þorgerður and Daði when I’m travelling through an area where I know the signal frequently disappears, and I start telling them some very juicy things,” María Rut said. She was referring to Viðreisn leader Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir and Finance Minister Daði Már Kristófersson.

“Then I just say: ‘The phone signal is dropping out.’ That’s my way of drawing attention to the problem,” she said.

María Rut, who chairs Alþingi’s Environment and Transport Committee, said the situation was serious. She said 2G and 3G networks had been switched off before 4G and 5G coverage was in place. On the way to the Westfjords, she said, there are stretches where people can go for hours without any signal.

She recalled coming across an accident where there was no mobile coverage. She had to drive away to contact the emergency services, then return to the scene. “That is unacceptable in 2026,” she said.

Ingveldur said she knew exactly where the dead spots were in her home in South Iceland, adding that she had to stand by a particular window to make a phone call. She plans to ask ministers whether tax incentives could help speed up the expansion of 4G and 5G networks.