Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Accepted
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 Summary
The government agrees and states BDUK is engaging with Ofcom and MNOs to establish ways to track roads and premises coverage ahead of the official licence obligation assessment in January 2027, with a target implementation date of January 2025.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: January 2025 5.2 Ofcom is responsible for publishing national mobile coverage data, including data for road and rail, and MNOs may publish their own network coverage data as part of their own communications. BDUK is committed to working with both groups to ensure mobile coverage data continues to be published and, where possible, is expanded. 5.3 Ofcom regularly reports on 4G coverage through their Connected Nations reports. BDUK currently publishes the total UK mobile coverage figure in its Corporate Plan and Annual Report and Accounts. This figure is the same as the one presented by Ofcom in its Connected Nations report. BDUK is currently engaging with Ofcom to consider publication of a decimal point coverage figure in BDUK’s upcoming statistical updates. 5.4 BDUK is further engaging with Ofcom and the MNOs to consider ways in which roads and premises coverage can be tracked ahead of Ofcom’s licence obligation assessment in January 2027.