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<p>The Government’s contingency planning with industry and considerable investment
in superfast broadband has ensured that the UK’s broadband and mobile networks have
stood up well to the increase in home working as a result of COVID-19</p><p><br>We
are also ambitious to see further improvements in broadband and mobile coverage, including
nationwide coverage of gigabit capable broadband, and are introducing a range of measures
to deliver this ambition. The Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property)
Bill will make it easier for operators to deploy broadband in blocks of flats. In
addition, in March, we announced that we would be legislating to mandate gigabit connectivity
in new build homes, and that we will be investing £5 billion in bringing gigabit broadband
to the hardest to reach areas of the UK. <br> <br>The Government also announced on
9 March that it had agreed a £1 billion deal with the mobile network operators to
deliver the Shared Rural Network. This will see operators collectively increase 4G
mobile coverage throughout the UK to 95% by the end of 2025, underpinned by legally
binding coverage commitments</p><p><br>In Stoke-on-Trent specifically, the Government
has also provided £9.2 million to the City of Stoke-on-Trent for a Local Full Fibre
Networks (LFFN) Wave 3 project. In partnership with VXFIBER, this project will develop
a publicly owned and operated, open access and gigabit-capable, 60 mile long network
with citywide coverage by spring 2021.</p>
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