Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Phone Signal: Rural Areas

Thursday 10 February 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department agreed a deal with operators to deliver a shared rural network to improve phone signal in rural areas.
  • Norfolk will see coverage improvements through the industry programme, set to complete by June 2024.
  • Officials will speak to the shared rural network and contact Duncan Baker's team, with the Minister willing to meet him afterwards.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Duncan Baker
Business & Trade Environment
Context

The question arises from the frustration of poor mobile coverage in North Norfolk and other rural areas.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to ensure reliable phone signal in (a) North Norfolk and (b) other rural areas?

Answer from Julia Lopez

We agreed a deal with operators to deliver the shared rural network, which tackles notspots and reduces connectivity divides between urban and rural areas. Norfolk will see coverage uplifts by the industry element of that programme due to complete in June 2024.

Answered
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Q2 Duncan Baker
Science & Technology Agriculture & Rural Affairs Environment
Context

The constituency includes areas of outstanding natural beauty with poor mobile phone reception. Residents are concerned about the visual impact of additional infrastructure.

Question

Would the Minister meet me to discuss how we can bring a better mobile signal to those areas without decreasing their natural beauty?

Answer from Julia Lopez

The shared rural network aims to transform mobile coverage without duplicating infrastructure, therefore minimising the visual impact. Officials have spoken to the shared rural network and will be getting in touch with his team. The Minister would be happy to meet him after that.

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