Broadband: West Dorset

The regulator, Ofcom, is responsible for reporting on the state of mobile network coverage across the UK. Mobile network coverage data for the West Dorset constituency is available as part of Ofcom’s Connected Nations reporting, as well for specific addresses through Ofcom’s Map Your Mobile tool; this now includes information on network performance. Government recognises that there remain discrepancies in some cases between peoples lived experience and the level of coverage that Ofcom reports should be available.

Government has restated, in the Statement of Strategic Priorities for Telecommunications, the Management of Radio Spectrum, and Postal Services (SSP), which was designated on 27 April 2026, the importance of continuing to improve reporting of mobile coverage. This includes building on the launch of their Map Your Mobile tool by exploring the use of measured and crowdsourced data to help build a robust data set on mobile network coverage and performance across the UK. Ofcom’s Chief Executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, wrote to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Rt Hon. Liz Kendall MP, on 4 June 2026, setting out how Ofcom will have regard to the Government’s SSP.

On 3 June 2026 Ofcom published a discussion paper which included case studies assessing the findings from crowdsourced and measured mobile network performance data in collection exercises, and the results of their recent consumer research suggesting potential future improvements to Map Your Mobile.