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 ensure equitable mobile network coverage during large public gatherings and events.

There is a widespread and dynamic commercial market for providing mobile coverage to gatherings and events in permanent indoor sites such as stadiums, and for providing short-term solutions for special outdoor events in temporary locations.

Connectivity solutions are available from mobile network operators, as well as some third parties, for such events to handle high-capacity demands. This includes the deployment of temporary mobile masts, known as Cells on Wheels (COWs) to provide additional capacity for those attending, for traders operating at events and for event organisers.

The Government has supported the UK pioneering such connectivity solutions for large events through the 5G Innovations Regions Programme. For example, as a consequence of the programme, Belfast City Council partnered with BT to deliver 5G Standalone network slicing capabilities over the EE mobile network at Belfast’s Christmas Market in December 2025, supporting faster services and more resilient mobile payments. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has also supported the deployment of connectivity solutions at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

Government also works to ensure that the UK has the right policy framework in place to maximise the overall value of spectrum use to the UK, while supporting wider policy objectives. The Government has set out an expectation in the Statement of Strategic Priorities for Telecommunications, the Management of Radio Spectrum, and Postal Services, that technological trends and future spectrum needs for Programme Making and Special Events should be reviewed, recognising their critical role in supporting large-scale cultural and sporting events across the UK.