Mobile Networks: Resilience

Baroness Neville-Rolfe Excerpts
Tuesday 11th December 2018

(5 years, 10 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Ashton of Hyde Portrait Lord Ashton of Hyde
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As the noble Lord knows perfectly well, the universal service directive, which is the basis for the universal service obligation, only includes fixed-line service. Therefore, it would be impossible under European law to include mobile.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe Portrait Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con)
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My Lords, digital connectivity, whether through broadband or mobile, is a new utility and those who do not have it are socially and financially excluded. Can my noble friend tell me when 100% of homes in this country will have such connectivity?

Lord Ashton of Hyde Portrait Lord Ashton of Hyde
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As the noble Lord, Lord Stevenson, alluded to, by 2020 the universal service obligation will give every household in this country a legal right to be connected at a speed of not less than 10 megabits a second.