Mobile Phones: Rural Areas
Culture Media and Sport
Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the potential effect on those in rural areas of those areas having a choice of fewer than four mobile operators.
Edward Vaizey (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Culture, Communications and Creative Industries), Business, Innovation and Skills; Wantage, Conservative)
The Mobile Infrastructure Project is focusing on areas where there is currently no coverage from any mobile network operator. Government and Ofcom do recognise that limited coverage is important and we are working with industry to seek solutions. However, it should be borne in mind that rural customers will have access to the same rates and packages as those in urban areas. So while the choice may be lower in places, this should have no direct impact on the prices people pay.