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

8 Conclusion

Thirty-Fifth Report - Supporting m…

Mobile operators anticipate missing 2024 4G coverage targets, seeking extension from Ofcom.

We noted that, in late 2023, three of the four mobile network operators had already advised BDUK that they were each unlikely to meet their Ofcom licence obligation to increase their own 4G coverage to 88% of the UK landmass … Read more

HM Treasury

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12 Conclusion Not Addressed

Thirty-Fifth Report - Supporting m…

BDUK lacked adequate cost information from operators for managing government-funded programme spending.

BDUK told us that costs had been one of three areas where it had wanted improved information from the operators. Although it had previously received information from DMSL on costs, the information DMSL had provided had not allowed BDUK to … Read more

Government Response

The government states the 95% coverage target is expected to be met ahead of schedule and within budget, with the Shared Rural Network's capped grant fund ensuring the government's financial contribution for Total Not Spots does not exceed £300.7 million. The response focuses on general financial risk management and current progress rather than BDUK's specific amendment for cost information mentioned in the conclusion.

HM Treasury

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31 Conclusion Not Addressed

Thirty-Fifth Report - Supporting m…

Department needs to better integrate and disseminate its extensive 5G research findings

Since 2017, the Department has spent £400 million in developing possible uses for 5G because it is not yet obvious that consumers will need 5G and the commercial case is not yet clear enough to support industry’s investment.59 The Department’s … Read more

Government Response

The government's response, which is identical to another item, fails to address the specific point about drawing together research findings, instead discussing its 5G ambition and general program evaluations.

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