Broadband: Rural Areas
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that rural shops have (a) reliable broadband and (b) reliable mobile connectivity.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan
The government is continuing to work in partnership with industry to rollout gigabit coverage and maintain a stable pro‑competition regulatory environment that encourages private investment.
This is complemented by Project Gigabit, where we are delivering gigabit-capable connections to premises not included in suppliers’ commercial delivery plans. As of the end of December 2025, over 1.3 million homes and businesses in rural areas across the UK had been upgraded to gigabit-capable broadband through government-funded programmes.
More than one million further premises, which includes rural shops, have been included in over £2.4 billion worth of Project Gigabit contracts. This includes approximately 910 homes and businesses in Newbury constituency.
In Ofcom’s Connected Nations Report 2025 it was reported that the Newbury constituency has almost 100% geographic 4G coverage from at least one mobile network operator, and 96% coverage from all operators. Businesses should have access to the high-quality connectivity that allows them to thrive, and it is the government’s ambition that all populated areas should have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. Each of the network operators have set out delivery and investment plans that align with this government’s ambition.
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