The DCMS Committee has widened the scope of its inquiry
into Broadband and the road to
5G, inviting evidence submissions on the impact
of coronavirus on the roll-out of full-fibre and 5G
infrastructure, including any differences being
experienced in different parts of the UK.
The deadline for submitting evidence has also been extended
to Friday 19 June 2020 (with a possibility
for further extension).
ENDS
Inquiry Terms of Reference:
• NEW: What
is the impact of COVID-19 on the roll-out of full-fibre and 5G
infrastructure in both the short and medium-to-long term,
including any differences in different parts of the UK.
•
How realistic is the Government’s ambition of nationwide
gigabit-capable broadband by 2025, and what measures (regulatory,
financial, technical, other) will be needed to achieve
it?
•
What are the challenges to the roll-out of 5G and gigabit-capable
networks? To what extent do existing legislative, regulatory and
spending plans address them?
•
What needs to happen to ensure the Government’s ‘outside in’
approach successfully addresses the digital divide while also
delivering value for money?
•
What does take-up of broadband and mobile services indicate about
consumer and business attitudes to digital connectivity? What
needs to be learnt from this for the roll-out of, and switchover
to, gigabit-capable networks?
•
What will be the impact on individuals and communities whose
broadband and mobile connectivity fails to keep pace with the
rest of the country over the next 10 years? What is the link with
other DCMS policy concerns, such as changing patterns in the
consumption of digital media?
•
How effectively do the different stakeholders (UK and devolved
governments, local authorities, Ofcom, industry) work together in
both the mobile and broadband sectors? How might these
relationships be improved to support gigabit-capable
roll-out?
Submission periods:
The Committee invites evidence from the public, organisations and
others with relevant expertise, on the terms of
reference. The deadline for submitting evidence has
been extended to Friday 19 June 2020 (with a
possibility for further extension).
