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Written question asked by Amanda Hack (Labour) on Monday, 24 November 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 26 November 2025. It was answered by Kanishka Narayan (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 December 2025 on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.


Mobile Phones: Standards

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of setting minimum quality standards for mobile phone connections.

Answer

There are widely recognised international technical standards for mobile telecommunications services in place, developed through the International Telecommunications Union and Third Generation Partnership Project. These standards set out technical performance requirements and metrics.

Ofcom recently updated its definition of ‘good’ mobile coverage as part of the update to their mobile coverage checker tool, ‘Map Your Mobile’. This reflects the level of service required to carry out the tasks people expect to use their mobile device for today.

User’s expectations of what they expect to be able to do on their mobile device evolve over time. In the recent proposed Ofcom Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum, and postal services, therefore, government asked Ofcom to keep under review its definitions of “good” 4G and 5G.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
93917
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Mobile phones Standards
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk