Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure equitable digital connectivity across the UK.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030 and we have a target to deliver gigabit broadband to 99% of UK premises by 2032. Both go further than just the largest towns and cities, to help ensure equitable access to digital connectivity across the UK.

Standalone 5G connectivity is being delivered by the three mobile network operators, who have each committed significant investment and made coverage commitments which align with the Government’s ambition. Alongside the commercial rollout of standalone 5G, Government’s Shared Rural Network programme continues to deliver 4G coverage in areas where there is little or no coverage currently, with delivery continuing to January 2027.

Gigabit-capable broadband is delivered by the market where it is commercially viable and the Government subsidises delivery to harder to reach premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans through Project Gigabit. We also continue to monitor and support market development for alternative solutions to deliver quality broadband connectivity to more remote premises.

To support both the rollout of fixed and mobile networks, Government continues to work to identify and address barriers to deployment where practical to do so.