Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether customers will need to switch their mobile network operator in order to connect to new 4G mobile signal masts built by a different operator under the Shared Rural Network.

One of the outcomes of the SRN will be greater consumer choice, providing new coverage from networks not previously available in the area. New coverage in partial not spot areas will augment existing coverage, so no switch of network is required unless the consumer wants to move networks by choice.

Consumers can use both the mobile network operators' coverage checkers on their public websites, alongside Ofcom's coverage checker, to determine which operator might provide the best coverage in their area.