Mobile Infrastructure Project Debate

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Mobile Infrastructure Project

Matt Warman Excerpts
Wednesday 10th February 2016

(8 years, 3 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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John Glen Portrait John Glen
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As ever, my hon. Friend and neighbour alights on the right points. I would like to talk about the short timeframe, because Wiltshire Council tells me that Arqiva contacted it on numerous occasions but the project was dropped at the first sign of local difficulty in obtaining a planning consent because the short timeframe to deliver on a completed mast made it too difficult. The other issue Arqiva said it experienced was that initially the coverage was intended to be for 2G voice and data services, but there was a subsequent extension to future-proof the project with capacity for 4G. I suspect that change of scope mid-way through the project did not help the smooth delivery of masts.

Matt Warman Portrait Matt Warman (Boston and Skegness) (Con)
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Does my hon. Friend agree that if we are going to go for new masts, it is right to use the latest technology that provides the data and broadband that people want access to as well as voice services?