Wireless Infrastructure Strategy: Call for Evidence

Monday 18th October 2021 Written Statements

[The Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure (Julia Lopez)]

I am repeating the following written ministerial statement made on 14 October 2021 in the other place by my noble Friend, the Minister for Arts, the Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay:

The Government want to ensure that the UK has world-class fixed and wireless digital infrastructure as soon as possible, unlocking the huge economic and social benefits these will bring.

On 24 June 2021 the Government therefore announced that we will develop a Wireless Infrastructure Strategy—a long-term policy framework for the development, deployment and adoption of 5G and advanced wireless networks in the UK, ensuring the UK has the wireless coverage to meet our connectivity needs. It will build on the policies outlined in the 2018 Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR), and subsequently the 2020 National Infrastructure Strategy, to transform the UK’s telecoms infrastructure.

To support this strategy, DCMS is launching a call for evidence to understand in greater detail:

the future wireless connectivity needs of the UK;

the extent to which the UK market is likely to be able to meet those needs up to 2030;

how the legal and policy framework can best continue to support investment, competition, innovation and adoption of wireless infrastructure;

how the Government can support the development and deployment of future wireless networks, including 6G.

We will use responses to this call for evidence to inform the development of the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy. This call for evidence will run for six weeks, closing on 24 November 2021.

Telecommunications policy is reserved and we will work with the Devolved Administrations to develop the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy.

[HCWS315]