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Shared Rural Network Implementation
24 January 2024
Lead MP
Helen Morgan
North Shropshire
Lib Dem
Responding Minister
Julia Lopez
Tags
EconomyScotlandForeign AffairsStandards & Ethics
Word Count: 9028
Other Contributors: 13
At a Glance
Helen Morgan raised concerns about shared rural network implementation in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government should consider improving data accuracy for the roll-out assessment, ensuring better equipment sharing by mobile network operators to reduce unnecessary mast construction in rural areas, and exploring rural roaming as an alternative solution. The Minister is urged to take steps towards addressing partial notspots and ensure that residents have multiple operator choices.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The implementation of the Shared Rural Network is progressing slowly, with concerns that rural areas may not achieve full coverage by the target date. In North Shropshire, only 15.1% of the area has partial data notspots, and less than 60% of premises have indoor coverage from all operators. The existing maps overestimate real-life coverage. The lack of infrastructure sharing among mobile network operators and planning delays are exacerbating these issues.
Alistair Carmichael
Lib Dem
Orkney and Shetland
Congratulated Helen Morgan on securing the debate, criticised mobile operators for lack of investment in rural areas over 10 years. Advocated for better indoor signal quality as well as extending emergency services network beyond land to include maritime emergencies. Alistair Carmichael interjected briefly, pointing out that there was a problem in the building, possibly referring to issues with connectivity during the debate. Alistair Carmichael encouraged the Minister to be firm with mobile operators who request extensions on their coverage targets, emphasizing the need for pressure to achieve results.
The hon. Lady is making a good start on her speech but mentions positive developments in Devon where connectivity has improved from about 84% up into the high nineties percentile over the last four years, demonstrating effective public and private sector collaboration.
Ben Everitt
Con
Dorset South
Stressed the importance of consistent and reliable mobile coverage in rural areas, highlighting the Government's target to ensure 95% 4G coverage by 2025 with £500 million investment. Emphasised that improved connectivity is crucial for economic growth outside cities, addressing regional inequalities and digital exclusion.
Carol Monaghan acknowledged contributions from other MPs and noted concerns about signal coverage within buildings. She mentioned the importance of considering environmental impacts and working closely with local communities for the roll-out of 4G networks in Scotland. Monaghan asked EE to clarify how they verify their network coverage targets and requested more details on specific interventions by the Government for challenging rural areas. Carol Monaghan clarified that broadband roll-out is a reserved issue under Westminster jurisdiction, although the Scottish Government supports efforts to expand connectivity.
Chris Evans
Lab Co-op
Caerphilly
Chris Evans highlighted the importance of reliable internet connectivity for rural areas, citing examples such as builders needing to drive long distances to find a signal and farmers facing coverage issues. He noted that half of all rural businesses report negative impacts on profits due to poor connectivity and underlined the mental health benefits of staying connected online.
Daniel Poulter
Con
Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
To speed up the roll-out programme, it would be beneficial if something could be done with planning policy nationally to give a presumption in support of broadband masts being put into church towers where there is a desire for such installation.
Community concerns must be considered when building infrastructure. However, upgrading existing transmission equipment at the top of structures should not face similar issues and should be easier to approve without significant opposition. Asked whether people not connected digitally feel left behind as technology advances without them. David Duguid inquired whether the shared rural network programme could be used to address notspots for both mobile and fixed signals, pointing out the failure of Scotland's R100 programme.
Duncan Baker
Con
North Norfolk
My rural constituency of North Norfolk faces similar challenges with notspots. The fundamental problem seems to be the planning process where applications for completely inappropriate locations are turned down by local communities, preventing necessary infrastructure development.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Constituents in rural areas struggle with mobile signal, impacting daily life and work. The shared rural network needs more support from the government to accelerate progress. Greg Smith raised concerns about the placement of 5G masts, asking if operators are being responsive to demands for more appropriate locations.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Jamie Stone discussed the issue of mobile signal connectivity in remote areas like Borgie. He mentioned an incident where an elderly gentleman could not reach emergency services due to a lack of mobile signals. Stone highlighted that despite a mast being installed in 2019, it remains unconnected due to issues with SSE and the Scottish Government. He requested the Minister to intervene to ensure the mast is connected and suggested adding solar power to masts for better reliability.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
I commend the hon. Lady for bringing forward this important debate and highlight the £200 million deal secured through the confidence and supply agreement with Northern Ireland, aimed at enhancing rural broadband provision. I question whether progress needs to match technological advances such as 5G.
Paul Howell
Con
Sedgefield
Does the hon. Lady recognise that in some rural areas—such as Mordon and Killerby in my Sedgefield constituency—people move away from villages not only because they cannot get broadband, but also due to lack of transport options. They desperately need both.
Sarah Dyke
Lib Dem
Glastonbury and Somerton
Discussed the challenges of 4G coverage in rural areas, highlighting safety concerns for farmers and elderly residents with no mobile reception. Proposed measures to incentivise operators for rural roaming.
Government Response
Julia Lopez
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dame Maria. I thank the hon. Member for North Shropshire (Helen Morgan) for securing this very important debate on the implementation of a shared rural network. The shared rural network (SRN) is a deal between the UK Government and the four mobile network operators—EE, Three, Virgin Media, O2 and Vodafone—signed in March 2020 to share an investment of £1 billion. It aims to deliver 4G coverage to about 95% of the UK land mass by the end of 2025. The programme is already well under way, with coverage from all four operators increasing and 93% geographic coverage for overall 4G achieved so far. Operators have deployed over 190 new sites since 2020 to meet their SRN targets, and 35 new sites have been added this year. The Government are also trying to ease the planning process with the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, encouraging operators to put in mast applications in sensible places. There are challenges in Scotland where the Scottish Government drive the roll-out, but there has been some progress recently. I am working on transparency issues and data collection to understand problems better and ensure proper infrastructure sharing between altnets. The SRN aims to tackle the digital divide, support economic growth, contribute to public safety, and improve life chances in connected communities. There are ongoing discussions about rural roaming and energy resilience.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.