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<p>The announcement on 28 October 2019 was the Ministerial Statement to Parliament
in respect of the Government’s in-principle support for a Shared Rural Network (SRN)
Programme, announced on 25th October 2019. The SRN is a proposal from the Mobile Network
Operators (MNOs) to collectively increase 4G mobile coverage throughout the United
Kingdom to 95% by 2025, underpinned by a legally binding coverage commitment from
each operator to have reached more than 92% by 2026. The Government’s in-principle
support remains subject to detailed negotiations with the MNOs, but our ambition is
to reach a final agreement on the SRN early next year.</p><p>Crucially, the benefits
will be felt across all four nations with the SRN extending coverage from each operator
to a minimum of 85% in Scotland, 86% in Wales and 91% in Northern Ireland and 91%
in England by 2026, although we expect the actual outcomes to be higher</p><p> </p><p>Industry
is contributing £530 million to address partial not-spots (areas where there is currently
only coverage from at least one but not all four MNOs). In addition, subject to reaching
a final agreement, the Government will invest £500 million to provide new digital
infrastructure in total not-spot areas (areas of market failure where no operators
are present today). This £500 million will be funded from central Government, for
the purposes set out in the business case for the Shared Rural Network. As this funding
is state aid, it will require the approval of the European Commission or, depending
on the circumstances of EU exit, the Competition and Markets Authority. <br></p><p>The
£500 million funding from Government does not assume any contributions from the devolved
administrations or from local authorities. However, support from both the devolved
administration and local authorities will be crucial to the success of the programme
- particularly in relation to planning approvals for new sites or site upgrades. Officials
in central Government have had detailed conversations about the SRN proposal with
their devolved counterparts, and will continue to engage with them regularly over
the coming months.</p><p> </p><p>The UK has a vibrant telecoms industry, and we are
keen that this programme reflects that. The programme will be delivered jointly by
all four MNOs however, it is expected that organisations across the industry will
have the opportunity to get involved in the delivery of the programme, as grant beneficiaries,
by competing to build the required infrastructure, in an open, fair and transparent
way. Beneficiaries will be required to report on their funding in line with the usual
process for publishing their own accounts. Further details will be made available
as the programme progresses.</p>
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