Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Ofcom will not assess Shared Rural Network 4G coverage targets until 2027.
Conclusion
As part of its Shared Rural Network programme, the Department aims to extend 4G coverage to 280,000 additional premises and an additional 16,000 kilometres of UK roads by December 2025.42 Many of the expected benefits of the programme come from increased premises coverage.43 To ensure that mobile network operators deliver these increases, Ofcom included premises and roads targets in the operators’ spectrum licences. However, Ofcom will not assess whether mobile network operators have met these targets until the end of the licence period in 2027.44
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 11 July 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗