MPs plan inquiry into PM’s pledges on internet
AN INQUIRY is to be launched into the UK’s broadband and 5G networks to examine the Government’s pledge to bring high-speed internet to every home and business in the UK by 2025.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee has today confirmed that it will look into how realistic the ambition is, what is needed to achieve it and what it will mean for people and businesses.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the Government wants to bring gigabit-speed broadband to the whole of the UK in the next five years, significantly increasing average internet speeds in many parts of the country.
However, questions have been raised over the feasibility of the target date, with some suggesting technical limitations make the plan over-ambitious.
The DCMS committee chair Julian Knight said: “The delivery of full-fibre broadband is critical to the success of the UK, particularly the need to ensure that our businesses of the future are equipped with a reliable, future-proofed network no matter where they are based.
“The Government has said it wants to achieve this nationwide roll-out by 2025. We’ll be carrying out a reality check to find out what steps must be taken now if this target is to be reached.”
The inquiry will also look at the role new 5G technology could play in years to come and will examine schemes such as the Shared Rural Network as a way of improving mobile connectivity across the country.
The Shared Rural Network is a joint venture between the four major mobile operators – O2, Vodafone, Three and EE – and the Government which includes operators sharing infrastructure
as well as building new phone masts.
The Prime Minister has previously promised to make “poor mobile signal a thing of the past” as part of its plans to improve connectivity in the UK.
It was announced last month that nine projects across the UK, including one in North Yorkshire, would receive a share of £35m from the Government to introduce technology such as 5G across the country.
North Yorkshire County Council’s trial, called the £6m Mobile Access North Yorkshire project, will look at how superfast mobile connectivity can bring benefits to rural communities.
In January, the NFU urged the Government and the telecommunications industry to ensure farming businesses were able to reach their full potential by making broadband and mobile connectivity in rural areas a priority in 2020.