Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that mobile phone provider coverage checkers are accurate.

Ofcom has power under the Communications Act 2003 to require coverage data from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and publishes this data online. Ofcom’s statutory powers to require the provision of information are fundamental to its ability to carry out its regulatory functions, and the information provided by operators must therefore be timely, complete and accurate. Each MNO also publishes data online with regard to its own coverage, and this data is subject to the ASA CAP Code.

Ofcom recently announced that they will open an investigation into errors found in data provided by EE and Vodafone, and whether these would constitute a breach of the operators’ obligations. This investigation is ongoing.

The Government is clear that it is essential that the data provided to consumers, whether on MNO websites or through Ofcom, must be the best available, and able to be used with confidence.