Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to question 5167 on Patents: Disclosure of Information, what recent discussions the minister has had with major companies on the effectiveness of the IPO online search tool.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) regularly engages with key stakeholders and users to inform the development and improvement of its intellectual property search services. Feedback gathered through this engagement is considered and, where appropriate, incorporated into the ongoing development of the tools.
The IPO provides a range of online search services to help businesses and members of the public access information relating to UK intellectual property rights, including patents, trade marks and registered designs. The IPO is committed to ensuring these services remain accessible, effective and responsive to user needs.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what is her Department's planned timetable for publishing the findings of the Mobile Market Review.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The Government is undertaking a Mobile Market Review to assess how it can go further in supporting the sector to invest in high-quality connectivity across the UK. A Call for Evidence supporting the Review closed on 5 May 2026. We are now carefully assessing the detailed responses received and will provide an update on our findings and next steps later this year.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the merger of Vodafone and Three on the rollout of 5G services in (a) Devon and (b) Newton Abbot constituency.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The Government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. As a result of the merger, VodafoneThree has committed to investing £11 billion in its joint network. They state this will lead to 99% UK population coverage by 2030.
The aim of the merger commitments, imposed by the Competition and Markets Authority with input from Ofcom, is to stimulate competition and investment across the sector. Compliance with the merger commitments will be monitored by Ofcom, through regular reporting.
The Government regularly engages with the MNOs, including VodafoneThree, to understand their investment plans and all three have publicly committed significant investment that aligns with our standalone 5G ambition. However, specific rollout plans are commercial decisions, and the Government does not hold details on where network operators plan to rollout their infrastructure geographically.
The Government is also undertaking a Mobile Market Review to assess what further action we can take to support the sector to invest in comprehensive, high-quality connectivity over the long-term. We expect to set out next steps later this year.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what support her Department is offering to Local Authorities to support the connectivity of 5G in their areas.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has published, via the Digital Connectivity Portal, extensive guidance for local authorities and operators to help facilitate broadband and mobile connectivity deployment. This includes technical information, as well as examples of best practice, such as supporting the appointment of Digital Champions in local authorities, to help deployment in an area go as smoothly as possible. The Department continues to work closely with both local authorities and operators to support the rollout of digital connectivity across the UK.
Since 2023 we have provided over £46 million of funding to local and combined authorities across the UK through the 5G Innovation Regions Programme, which aims to increase investment in 5G networks and encourage the adoption of advanced connectivity services in key sectors.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of whether Ofcom's proposed benchmark for mobile network performance is sufficient to move the UK into the top third of OECD countries for mobile quality on a sustained basis.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
Ofcom is an independent regulator, and its proposed performance benchmark is part of an ongoing discussion on defining a measure of good mobile performance based on a set of performance thresholds that indicate a good overall user experience. This discussion, alongside the detailed evidence gathered through our Mobile Market Review Call for Evidence, will inform the Government’s thinking on what “good” network performance means for consumers, the public sector and businesses. Our Call for Evidence closed on 5 May; we are reviewing responses and will set out next steps later this year.
It should be noted that the current thresholds that the OECD uses for measuring mobile network performance, and the achievements of nations within that benchmark, will evolve over time. This is why Government has restated, in the Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum and postal services, that Ofcom’s definitions of what constitutes “good” 4G and 5G and the signal strength thresholds it uses to measure this, should be kept under review to reflect evolving consumer and business expectations and behaviours.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what performance standards for mobile connectivity apply to Industrial Strategy Zones and AI Growth Zones.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The Government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. The roll out of standalone 5G is being led by commercial investment from the mobile network operators. All three network operators have committed significant investment plans which align with the Government’s ambition, and we continue to work closely with the operators to ensure high-quality connectivity is available right across the UK, including in Industrial Strategy and AI Growth Zones.
Through the Mobile Market Review, we are looking to better understand how Government can go further in supporting the sector to deliver widespread, high-quality connectivity. Our Call for Evidence asked for detailed evidence on how the Government should think about, and define, ‘good’ mobile coverage in relation to the quality of service provided to consumers, businesses and the public sector. Responses received included suggestions for Industrial Zones and these will be considered alongside other locations.
Our Call for Evidence closed on 5 May. We’re reviewing responses and will set out next steps later this year.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what performance thresholds will apply when assessing whether the Government's 2030 target for standalone 5G in all populated areas has been met.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The Government’s ambition for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030 is being led by commercial investment from the mobile network operators. All three network operators have committed significant investment plans which align with this Government ambition.
Through the Mobile Market Review, we are looking to better understand how Government can go further in supporting the sector to deliver widespread, high-quality connectivity. Our Call for Evidence asked for detailed evidence on how the Government should think about, and define, ‘good’ mobile coverage in relation to the quality of service provided to consumers, businesses and the public sector. We also sought views and evidence on whether the Government’s standalone 5G coverage ambition is set at the right level.
Our Call for Evidence closed on 5 May. We are reviewing responses and will set out next steps later this year.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of patent trolls on funding for research and design in the 5G sector.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The government supports R&D in the 5G sector to boost growth and ensure secure, resilient digital infrastructure, including through the £271m Advanced Connectivity R&D Programme and the Global Coalition on Telecoms. As part of the government's focus on making the UK one of the best places to grow a technology business, the government continually monitor patent strategies to ensure the patent system is functioning effectively. Business models in which patents are bought, and then enforced against others, may be legitimate.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of patent trolls on the rollout of 5G networks.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The Government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030 and this will be achieved primarily by commercial investment from the three Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
Business models in which patents are bought, and then enforced against others, may be legitimate, including in the 5G sector. Through the Intellectual Property Office, government monitors the effective functioning of the patent system to ensure that incentives to innovate are maintained. The IPO recently undertook a review of the legal framework surrounding Standards Essential Patents to identify and consider how to address a number of issues, including licensing practices. The Government expects to publish a response this summer.
Regarding whether patent trolls impact the rollout of 5G networks, this is not an issue that has been raised with Government, including through the recent Mobile Market Review call for evidence which asked stakeholders for evidence on the major developments occurring across the mobile sector.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to tackle patent trolls in the 5G standalone sector.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The Government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030 and this will be achieved primarily by commercial investment from the three Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
Business models in which patents are bought, and then enforced against others, may be legitimate, including in the 5G sector. Through the Intellectual Property Office, government monitors the effective functioning of the patent system to ensure that incentives to innovate are maintained. The IPO recently undertook a review of the legal framework surrounding Standards Essential Patents to identify and consider how to address a number of issues, including licensing practices. The Government expects to publish a response this summer.
Regarding whether patent trolls impact the rollout of 5G networks, this is not an issue that has been raised with Government, including through the recent Mobile Market Review call for evidence which asked stakeholders for evidence on the major developments occurring across the mobile sector.