Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Acknowledged
Department lacks visibility on Shared Rural Network progress due to commercially sensitive operator data.
Recommendation
We asked the Department how it will know whether it has achieved its premises and roads targets and whether there was a risk of getting to the end of 2025 without being able to assess progress.45 The Department told us that it would like better visibility of its progress against these targets, including more detailed coverage forecasts, and it is speaking with the mobile network operators about getting the necessary information.46 It described the challenge of trying to get the mobile network operators to share commercially sensitive data about their network’s coverage. The Department said it would like the mobile network operators to share the data with it privately.47
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and commits to working with Ofcom and MNOs to ensure mobile coverage data, including for roads and premises, is published and expanded, and will engage to consider tracking methods by January 2027, with a target implementation date of January 2025.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
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.