UK Inquiry Tracker

Supporting mobile connectivity

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 22 Mar 2024 Closed: 29 May 2024 Parliament page

The Government has set a challenging ambition to deliver UK-wide reliable mobile connectivity. Its plans for 5G coverage are reliant on private sector investment, action from multiple departments and bodies, and learning lessons from the past. In March 2020, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) launched a connectivity … Read more The Government has set a challenging ambition to deliver UK-wide reliable mobile connectivity. Its plans for 5G coverage are reliant on private sector investment, action from multiple departments and bodies, and learning lessons from the past. In March 2020, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) launched a connectivity improvement programme the Shared Rural Network (SRN), which has led to 4G mobile coverage increasing from 91.4% in 2020 to 92.7% in 2023, against a target of 95% by 2025. The National Audit Office (NAO) has found that the SRN is behind schedule, with three out of the UK’s four network operators admitting they may not be able to deliver the coverage required within current grant funding. It further found that government is not currently monitoring progress effectively, and does not have the information to understand what the programme is costing. In 2021, the Committee’s report on Improving Broadband warned that digital inequality was compounding the economic inequality exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee concluded that government’s pledge to deliver nationwide gigabit broadband coverage was unachievable, and that the hardest-to-reach premises may struggle with fixed broadband for years to come. Based on the NAO report, the Committee will take evidence from senior officials from DSIT and its agency, Building Digital UK, on subjects including progress on plans to deliver UK-wide reliable mobile connectivity, and the current picture for the SRN. If you have evidence on these issues, please submit it here by 23:59 on 5 April 2024. Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere. The Committee cannot investigate individual issues with connectivity. If you have an individual concern you should contact your provider in the first instance. This inquiry was closed due to the 2024 General Election. Show less

7 Recommendations

27 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

1 Event

Activity timeline 4 events

11 Jul
2025

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Thirty-fifth report from Session 2023-24

28 May
2024

Report published

Thirty-Fifth Report - Supporting mobile connectivity

22 Apr
2024

Oral evidence

Supporting mobile connectivity

22 Apr
2024

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Supporting mobile connectivity

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

22 Apr 2024

View on parliament.uk

Supporting mobile connectivity

Dean Creamer CBE · Building Digital UK Emran Mian CB OBE · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Sarah Munby · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Thirty-Fifth Report - Supporting mobile connectivity	HC 650	28 May 2024	34	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 results

3 Conclusion Deferred

Thirty-Fifth Report - Supporting m…

Confirm remaining 4G coverage gaps and develop plans for alternative connectivity in underserved areas.

The Department has not confirmed which specific areas are in the 5% of the UK landmass that will not have 4G connectivity, and it does not yet have a plan for ensuring that consumers and businesses in these areas get … Read more

Government Response

The department cannot confirm which specific areas will remain without 4G connectivity yet, as site locations are not finalized before late 2025. Identification of remaining uncovered areas will be undertaken only upon completion of the site acquisition phase of the programme.

HM Treasury

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16 Conclusion Deferred

Thirty-Fifth Report - Supporting m…

Remaining 5% without 4G coverage are unpopulated areas with limited benefit for infrastructure.

We were concerned about the people in the 5% of the UK landmass that would have no 4G coverage after December 2025, and whether these communities would lose out forever. The Department assured us that the 5% consisted of the … Read more

Government Response

The government states it's not yet possible to predict exact areas without 4G but will undertake identification of remaining uncovered areas upon completion of the site acquisition phase. It reiterates that few people are expected to be affected.

HM Treasury

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17 Recommendation Deferred

Thirty-Fifth Report - Supporting m…

Department lacks exact knowledge of specific geographical areas without 4G coverage post-programme.

The Department’s business case for the Shared Rural Network programme did not confirm which specific geographical areas would benefit from better coverage as a result of the programme and which would not.29 We therefore asked if the Department now knew … Read more

Government Response

The government agrees but states that identifying specific unserved areas is not possible yet as site locations are not finalised; identification will be undertaken upon completion of the site acquisition phase, with a target date of January 2027.

HM Treasury

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Government Response AI assessment · 33 of 7 classified

Accepted 20

Acknowledged 8

Deferred 3

Not Addressed 2

Total 7 recs + 27 conclusions