News

June 21, 2018

Mobile UK and National Parks England Announce new agreement to enhance connectivity and protect beauty

Mobile UK, the trade body for the Mobile industry, and National Parks England have come together to announce a landmark agreement that seeks to assist the deployment of mobile infrastructure while respecting the beauty and sensitivity of the nation’s national parks.

The Accord was brokered between National Parks England and Mobile UK has attracted support from Government ministers in both DCMS and Defra. The Accord aims to:

  • help communities living in National Parks to benefit from consistent high-quality connectivity;
  • protect the special qualities of the National Parks by minimising any adverse environmental impacts; and
  • to support close working between Operators and National Park Authorities to achieve these aims.

With English National Parks covering almost 10% of the country, the new agreement is an important step forward in making sure our rural areas benefit from modern technological advances.

  • There are now over 92 million mobile subscriptions in the UK in 2016.
  • Increasingly mobile and smart phones are being used to access the internet which is driving the convergence of mobile and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Chair of National Parks England and the South Downs National Park Authority, Margaret Paren said:

“National Parks have always been about finding pragmatic long term solutions to the many competing demands on land.  Ensuring modern telecommunications infrastructure is no different.  Today’s agreement will be very good news for the thousands of businesses and people living in our National Parks, for the millions who visit them, and for the stunning landscapes and towns that are the lifeblood for our rural economies.”

Director for Mobile UK, Hamish MacLeod said:

“Mobile connectivity is crucial to today’s modern world yet in areas such as national parks it is often more difficult to find suitable sites which are practical yet also minimise the impact on an area’s beauty. This agreement brings together the industry and National Parks to work collaboratively to explore opportunities for ensuring the benefits of mobile connectivity reach communities in these beautiful parts of our country and help them survive and thrive in the 21st century.”

Minister of State for Digital Policy, Margot James MP, said:

“Everyone in the UK should be able to get good quality mobile coverage where they live, work and travel. This agreement will help to improve connections for rural communities, protect the landscape and wildlife of our treasured National Parks and help to build a modern Britain that’s fit for the future.”

Minister for National Parks at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Lord Gardiner, said:

“It is vitally important that people living and working in our National Parks have the same opportunities as those in urban areas. That means ensuring access to high quality mobile connectivity.

"This accord is an encouraging commitment from both industry and National Parks England to help connect communities and we hope it can deliver tangible improvements as soon as possible”.

Notes to Editors

  1. Copies of the National Parks England and Mobile UK Joint Accord are available at the National Parks England website section on publications and documents or see Mobile UK’s PDF below
  2. The accord will come into force on the 1 July 2018.
  3. National Parks England is the umbrella organisation that brings together the nine National Park Authorities (NPAs) and the Broads Authority.  It exists to support policy and practice by providing a collective voice for the views of the English NPAs; raising the profile of their work; facilitating discussion on issues of common concern; and working in partnership with other bodies.  For more information see: Web: www.nationalparksengland.org.uk - Twitter: @natparksengland
  1. Mobile UK is the voice of the United Kingdom’s mobile network operators - EE, O2, Three and Vodafone. Web: http://www.mobileuk.org/ - Twitter: @MobileUK_News
  1. Mobile statistics can be found at OFCOM, The Communications Market Report 2017.
National Parks England and Mobile UK Joint Accord PDF

About Building Mobile Britain

Building Mobile Britain logo

Building Mobile Britain is a campaign created by Mobile UK seeking to work with national and local government, as well as interested industry groups to overcome the challenges we face with expanding the existing mobile networks, while also developing innovative services for customers.

See here for further information - or #BuildingMobileBritain

Media Contacts

Gareth Elliott
Head of Policy and Communications
Tel: 07887 911 076
Email: press@mobileuk.org

< View all news items