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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential for disruption to television services caused by the introduction of 4G mobile services to areas not previously under mobile coverage.

The licences that Ofcom issued for the roll-out of 4G mobile broadband services in the 800 MHz band required the licencees - EE, O2, Three and Vodafone - to establish a joint company to deliver assistance to all consumers affected by interference caused by 4G who rely on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) for their primary viewing service. This company is at800.

at800 is overseen by the 4G/TV Co-Existence Oversight Board. The Board reports to Government and Ofcom. Membership of the Board includes representatives of the broadcasting industry and Mobile Network Operators, as well as independent consumers and technical experts.

Ofcom estimated that 2.3 million households, of which 900,000 rely on DTT for primary viewing, could potentially experience interference. The incidences of interference are much lower than expected; at the end of July 2015, at800 confirmed 7,947 cases of4G interference, excluding the 35 cases found within the pilots.