Mobile Phone Signal Rural Communities 2025-11-12
2025-11-12
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Villages such as Cuddington and Bryants Bottom in the questioner's constituency still have zero mobile coverage despite proximity to urban areas. Previous efforts with the Minister's predecessor and network providers have not resulted in improvement.
I am grateful to the Minister for his answer, but villages in my constituency—less than 50 miles from where we all are now—such as Cuddington and Bryants Bottom still have zero mobile coverage. I have raised this issue with the Minister’s predecessor and all the networks. When are we going to get to a point where warm words about rural connectivity turn into actual rural connectivity?
The shared rural network has already delivered for 95% of the UK’s land mass a year early, and we are fully committed to making sure that 4G is available to all our populations. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to write to me, I would be very happy to meet him about the specific notspots in his constituency.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide a specific timeline or commitment for improving coverage in Cuddington and Bryants Bottom.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
In Suffolk Coastal, only about three quarters of households have indoor service for voice calls compared to the national average of over 90%. This affects many rural areas such as Woodbridge, Bawdsey and the peninsula.
In Suffolk Coastal, about three quarters of households have indoor service for voice calls, compared with the national average of over 90%. Across Woodbridge, Bawdsey and the peninsula, so many households rely on network coverage, but they have zero service. Will the Minister meet me to discuss this important issue, which affects not just my constituency but rural constituencies as a whole?
Many Members raise with me the particular issue of notspots in their constituencies, as well as where connectivity is not as good as we would like it to be. I would be very happy to offer a meeting to my hon. Friend.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide specific details on addressing the coverage issues in Suffolk Coastal beyond an offer of a meeting.
Response accuracy