Emergency Services Network: Wales

(asked on 27th June 2019) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Emergency Services Network and Extended Area Service masts are scheduled to be erected in (a) Dwyfor Meirionnydd, (b) Arfon, (c) Ceredigion and (d) Carmarthen East and Dinefwr.


Answered by
Nick Hurd Portrait
Nick Hurd
This question was answered on 5th July 2019

The Emergency Services Network (ESN) is being provided primarily to deliver world class critical voice and data to the emergency services, and to replace the existing Airwave network with one provided by EE, who operate the UK’s largest and fastest 4G Network.

The details of ESN and Extended Area Service (EAS) masts in (a) Dwyfor Meirionnydd, (b) Arfon, (c) Ceredigion and (d) Carmarthen East and Dinefwr are as follows:

ESN masts completed15
EAS masts completed (not yet operational)1
ESN masts scheduled0
EAS masts scheduled30

Some additional ESN sites are likely to follow. Their locations are currently being confirmed.

I can also confirm that all ESN masts can be shared by multiple mobile network operators. The same will potentially apply to the 30 EAS masts, subject to approval by the relevant Planning Authorities.

In respect of cost, I am afraid it is not possible to aggregate ESN costs down to specific geographic locations and any specific costs in relation to EAS would breach the disproportionate cost threshold.
The Government’s ambition is to have high-quality mobile connectivity where people live, work and travel, and we have committed to extending geographic coverage to 95% of the UK. Roaming in rural areas has the potential to improve consumer choice and could be a solution for the problem of “partial not-spots” (where one or more operators are present, but all four are not). It refers to the ability of customers of one network to use another provider’s network when they do not have access to a signal in a given area. This is currently mandated for emergency calls so that a 999 call can be made from any mobile in all areas where there is a signal from at least one operator. Improving mobile coverage in rural areas is a priority for us and we are considering all the options available to us, including rural roaming, to facilitate this.

Reticulating Splines