Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the claim by telecoms company Ericsson that the UK is lagging behind other countries in rolling out 5G networks, despite the opening of the 5G Innovation Centre at University of Surrey to improve mobile networks.

The Government is committed to ensuring that Britain seizes the chance to be a world leader in 5G technology, which it supports through research and innovation; building on areas of UK excellence; and creating the right regulatory framework.

The Surrey University 5G Innovation Centre is already acquiring an international reputation as one of the top three centres for 5G research globally. It is not alone - other UK universities including Bristol, Southampton, Lancaster, Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt and Sheffield are also conducting world-leading research in areas that are vital for the implementation of 5G.