Mobile Phone Networks

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 2:30 pm on 17 October 2006.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Lord Steel of Aikwood Lord Steel of Aikwood Liberal Democrat 2:30, 17 October 2006

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply, but as mobile phone companies are doing quite nicely out of the licences, should there not be a social obligation on them to extend basic coverage at least to all substantial villages in the country? Is he aware that the Duke of Buccleuch recently pointed out that the Romans, 2,000 years ago, had an effective system of signalling by beacon throughout the Scottish Borders, which is something yet to be achieved by Vodafone?