News

April 9, 2020

Mobile UK submits its response to the Welsh National Infrastructure Commission

Mobile UK has submitted its response to the Welsh National Infrastructure Commission’s Call for Evidence relating to digital communications asserting that mobile and digital communications will be an essential enabler of change.

Mobile UK and its members support the desire to extend superfast broadband to as many households as possible across Wales and a focus from the National Infrastructure Commission to explore a technology-agnostic approach including both fixed, wireless and mobile technologies. 4G and 5G technologies must be considered strong candidates for domestic broadband and public funds allocated accordingly. Equally, it is just as important that in addition to funding, policy development in Wales considers mobile technologies at the same priority level it does fixed technologies.

Further, an essential element for delivering on this ambition is an urgent reform of the planning regulations, both for the roll-out of 5G in Wales but also for the deployment of rural coverage through the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme, which is designed to bring a 4G signal to some of the remotest parts of the country. Also, Mobile UK has outlined in its response key policy reforms that could also benefit wider mobile infrastructure roll-out.

The SRN programme will be coordinated through a joint venture that is owned by all four Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), working with the UK Government to deliver significantly improved 4G coverage to the most rural parts of the United Kingdom. The SRN will take all four operators' 4G geographic coverage individually to 90% providing aggregate coverage across theUK of 95%. In Wales, coverage will be extended from 58% to 80%. Under current proposals, the SRN is expected to be completed by 2025.

Mobile UK response to the Welsh National Infrastructure Commission's Call for Evidence

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