Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of digital connectivity for businesses in the West Midlands.

The Government recognises that high quality digital connectivity is essential for businesses in the West Midlands and across the whole of the UK. Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030 and we have a target to deliver nationwide (99%) gigabit broadband coverage by 2032.

The rollout of standalone 5G, is being led by commercial investment from the three Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). All three MNOs have committed to significant investment plans which align with our 2030 ambition, and we continue to work to with the sector to understand what more we can do to stimulate investment in high-quality connectivity and identify (and address) barriers to infrastructure deployment where practical to do so.

Project Gigabit is the Government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans. Delivery across the West Midlands is primarily being taken forward through several Project Gigabit contracts, including those covering Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, alongside wider cross-regional interventions to reach remaining homes and businesses.

Based on Ofcom’s Connected Nations reporting, as of January 2026, by aggregating the coverage in the 30 local and unitary authorities in the West Midlands region, we find that 93.6% of the landmass of the West Midlands had 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile network operators (MNO), whilst standalone 5G was available outside 93.2% of premises across the region from at least one MNO. This compares to 84% of the UK landmass having 4G geographic coverage from all four MNOs, and standalone 5G being available outside 93% of UK premises from at least one operator.

For gigabit-capable coverage, we estimate that 90.2% of West Midlands premises has access to gigabit-capable broadband, this is above the UK wide average of 88%. Gigabit-capable broadband coverage specifically to businesses stands at 74.4% in the West Midlands compared to a UK wide figure of 71%. Additionally, some businesses use leased-line services to receive a broadband connection, but the Department does not hold data on the extent to which these services are used.