Asked by: Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative - Wetherby and Easingwold)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that network providers prioritise (a) mast height adjustments, (b) network modernisation and (c) other infrastructure improvements in areas with terrain challenges.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Most digital infrastructure, including new ground-based masts and rooftop antennas, benefit from permitted development rights, which permit deployment of infrastructure that meet certain specifications without the need for full planning permission.
We are encouraging network innovation through our Open Networks Programme. For example, the BEACH project, which deployed shared cellular network solutions via small cells to provide greater network bandwidth based on end-user demand. Similarly, the ONE WORD project utilised existing street furniture, such as lampposts, to deploy small cell infrastructure in high-density areas like Bath and Shrewsbury.
Both projects demonstrated scalable innovative network approaches in challenging environments.
Asked by: Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative - Wetherby and Easingwold)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to improve mobile network coverage in (a) Kilburn and (b) other villages in Wetherby and Easingwold constituency.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations report (published on 5 December 2024) 97% of the Wetherby and Easingwold constituency has 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile operators, while 5G is available from at least one operator outside 85% of all premises. I have raised my concerns about the accuracy of their coverage reporting with Ofcom and I urge them to continue to improve this.
The government wants all areas of the UK to benefit from good quality mobile coverage. Our ambition is for all populated areas, including communities in your constituency, to have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.
We work closely with the mobile industry and are committed to ensuring we have the right policy and regulatory framework to support investment and competition in the market.
Asked by: Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative - Wetherby and Easingwold)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent progress her Department has made on the procurement process under Project Gigabit for work in Elmet and Rothwell constituency.
Answered by John Whittingdale
Over 98% of premises in Elmet and Rothwell already have access to a superfast broadband connection (over 30Mbps) and over 83% have access to gigabit-capable broadband (>1000 Mbps). This is above the national average of 97% for superfast coverage and 79% for gigabit coverage respectively.
In April 2023, as part of Project Gigabit, we launched a procurement inviting broadband suppliers to bid for a contract to bring gigabit-capable broadband to the remaining premises in West Yorkshire, including in Elmet and Rothwell, that are unlikely to be reached by broadband suppliers' commercial rollout plans. We aim to award a contract to the successful supplier in early 2024.