Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the accuracy of Ofcom data on phone signal in Worcestershire; and what plans her Department has to improve connectivity in Worcestershire.

Ofcom is responsible for the reporting of mobile coverage across the UK but does not publish mobile coverage data at a county level.

The Government recognises that there are discrepancies in some cases between peoples’ lived experience and the level of coverage that Ofcom reports should be available. The launch of Ofcom’s updated mobile coverage checker ‘Map Your Mobile’ in June 2025 was a positive step forward in helping address this.

Government, however, recognises that there is further work to be done and we continue to encourage Ofcom to improve the accuracy of mobile coverage reporting across the UK, allowing consumers to make more informed choices about which operator provides the best level of service in their area.

Our ambition is for all populated areas, including communities in Worcestershire, to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030.

The Government continues to work closely with the mobile network operators to ensure their continued investment into the expansion and improvement of mobile networks, and that investment translates into benefits for communities right across the UK, including those in Worcestershire.

We are also working to identify and address barriers to deployment of mobile infrastructure. This includes recently launching a call for evidence to help determine where planning rules could be relaxed to support the deployment of digital infrastructure.