Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that rural communities in Buckinghamshire receive timely improvements in broadband and mobile connectivity.

Through a combination of commercial market and government subsidised delivery, the government is ensuring 99% of UK premises will have access to gigabit-capable broadband by 2032.

Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans. In Buckinghamshire this includes approximately 6,430 premises in scope of several Project Gigabit contracts, of which 4,370 have already received a gigabit capable connection.

In relation to mobile connectivity, the Government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G coverage by 2030; all network operators have committed to significant investment plans that align with this ambition. The Government continues to work closely with the industry, including to identify and remove barriers to deployment where appropriate to do so.