Written statement on Government response to the National Infrastructure Commission report: 5G Strategy

Mr David Gauke (Chief Secretary to the Treasury):My noble friend the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Baroness Neville-Rolfe) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (David Gauke) deposited a copy of the National Infrastructure Commission’s report on 5G and telecommunication technology in the Libraries of both Houses on 24 January 2017. [DEP2017-0060]

Today I confirm the publication of the Government’s response to the National Infrastructure Commission’s report. This response is set out in the Government’s 5G Strategy.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/next-generation-mobile-technologies-a-5g-strategy-for-the-uk

Copies of the document will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

“Connected Future”, published on 14 December 2017, calls for Government to play an active role in ensuring that basic mobile services are available wherever we live, work and travel. The Government welcomes the report as an opportunity to position the UK at the forefront of the deployment of 5G, and ensure we can take early advantage of the applications 5G networks may enable.

That is why, alongside this publication, the Government is providing £1.1 billion of funding to explore and incentivise the next generation of digital infrastructure for the UK – 5G and full fibre. This will be a core part of our modern industrial strategy - helping to shape and establish an economy which is adaptive, resilient to change and fit for the demands of the 21^st century.

The National Infrastructure Commission was announced in October 2015, to provide expert impartial analysis of the long-term infrastructure needs of the country. In January 2017 the commission was established on a permanent basis as an Executive Agency of HM Treasury.