The 12 Network Rail-managed stations included in the current phase of Project Reach are Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, London Euston, London King’s Cross, London Liverpool Street, London Paddington, London Waterloo and Manchester Piccadilly.

The locations of the 57 tunnels included in the programme are located on the East Coast, West Coast, Great Western, Thameslink, Kent, North West and Wales.

The full list of tunnels is as follows –

Ofcom is responsible for reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK through their Connected Nations Reports and Map Your Mobile tool. Utilising the Connected Nations data, trends in how coverage has evolved over time can be determined.

As of January 2026, by aggregating the coverage in the 30 local and unitary authorities in the West Midlands region, 93.6% of the West Midlands has 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile operators (as defined by Ofcom), while standalone 5G is available outside of 93.2% of premises from at least one operator. This is means 4G coverage increased from 92.9% in July 2025, and standalone 5G coverage rose quite substantially from 80.5% over the same period.

Ofcom is responsible for reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK, through their Connected Nations reports and the coverage maps available in the ‘Map Your Mobile’ tool. Through the Connected Nation's reports, data is provided on a constituency and local authority level, and through the Map Your Mobile tool, individuals across Devon can determine which operator provides the best level of coverage in their area.

Government recognises that there remain discrepancies in some cases between individual experience and the level of coverage that Ofcom reports should be available.

‘Map Your Mobile’, launched in June 2025, includes crowdsourced data on network performance, opposed to coverage alone to help be more reflective of individual experience. Whilst this was a positive step, we continue to work closely with Ofcom on this issue.

The Government has also restated the importance of continuing to improve the reporting of mobile coverage in the Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum and postal services, designated on 27 April 2026. This includes building on the Map Your Mobile tool, exploring further use of measured and crowdsourced data, and keeping under review definitions of “good” 4G and 5G to ensure they reflect evolving consumer and business expectations.

The Government is undertaking a Mobile Market Review to assess major developments in the sector and how these impact investment in high-quality connectivity. A Call for Evidence supporting the review closed on 5 May and sought detailed input from stakeholders on whether the regulatory framework is equipped to support future investment, innovation and competition in mobile networks. We have engaged with stakeholders, including the mobile industry, throughout the review process and are assessing the responses received. We will provide an update on our findings and next steps later this year.

As part of the Government’s Mobile Market Review call for evidence, we asked how Government should think about, and define, ‘good’ mobile coverage in relation to quality of service provided to consumers, businesses and the public sector. We also asked what steps Government could take to ensure operators are able to provide this.

The call for evidence closed on 5 May; we are now reviewing responses and determining appropriate policy options with a view to setting out next steps later this year.

Whilst not a legal definition, Ofcom recently proposed a good performance standard for consumers for discussion in their ‘Connectivity you can count on’ discussion paper, published 3^rd June 2026; this can be found at the following link

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/mobile-connectivity-you-can-count-on

The period between submission of the Outline Business Case and final Government approval reflected the need to complete the detailed commercial, legal, and financial arrangements for a complex long-term partnership. Additional time was also required following the withdrawal of the original private-sector connectivity partner and subsequent changes to the consortium's governance and management arrangements.

These matters needed to be resolved and assessed before final Government approval could be granted.

The Government does not currently intend to publish a route-by-route timetable for eliminating mobile connectivity blackspots on the rail network.

Improvements to passenger connectivity are being delivered through a range of programmes across the rail network. These include Project Reach, which is improving mobile coverage in railway tunnels and stations, the deployment of Low Earth Orbit satellite technology to enhance onboard Wi‑Fi, and longer-term opportunities associated with the Future Railway Mobile Communication System infrastructure.

As coverage improvements will be delivered through a combination of initiatives and will depend on a range of operational and commercial factors, the Government is not producing a route-by-route timetable for eliminating connectivity blackspots.

The South Eastern Main Line through Tonbridge is not included in the current phase of Project Reach. No decision has yet been taken on its inclusion in any future phase and, consequently, no start date has been set.

The current phase of Project Reach will improve mobile connectivity in fifty-seven railway tunnels and provide upgraded 5G neutral host infrastructure at twelve Network Rail stations, with delivery scheduled through to March 2029.

Any future expansion of the programme will be considered in due course, subject to priorities, funding, and approvals.

The regulator, Ofcom, is responsible for reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK. Ofcom’s reporting in their Connected Nations reports and the coverage maps available in the ‘Map Your Mobile’ tool, is based primarily on coverage predictions from the mobile network operators (MNOs).

The Map Your Mobile tool includes crowdsourced data that indicates network performance at a postcode district level. In parallel, through the Mobile Market Review, Government is exploring how ‘good’ quality coverage and quality of service should be defined.

If a consumer believes that the service they receive does not reflect the coverage or service information provided by their operator, they should contact their provider. Providers are required to have clear complaints procedures and to be members of an independent Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme.

The regulator, Ofcom, is responsible for reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK. Mobile coverage data is provided in their Connected Nations reporting, alongside their Map Your Mobile tool, launched in June 2025.

Ofcom models mobile coverage using predicted received signal strength rather than by voice or SMS availability. Information on the methodology used to determine coverage levels is included in Ofcom’s methodology documentation, published alongside both the Connected Nations report and the Map Your Mobile tool. Both are available at the following links:

• https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/multi-sector/infrastructure-research/connected-nations-2025/cn2025---methodology-annex.pdf?v=408460
• https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/phones-telecoms-and-internet/comparing-service-quality/2025/map-your-mobile-2025-threshold-methodology.pdf?v=401713

In the Statement of Strategic Priorities for Telecommunications, the Management of Radio Spectrum, and Postal Services, the Government reiterated the importance of continuing to improve reporting of mobile coverage. The Government will work closely with Ofcom to explore the use of measured and crowdsourced data, and keep the definitions of “good” 4G and 5G under review to ensure they reflect evolving consumer and business expectations.

The Government is committed to improving passenger connectivity as a core part of the rail offer. This is why the Department secured funding as part of the Spending Review to use low earth orbit satellite connectivity to significantly improve on train Wi-Fi for our passengers on mainline trains. We anticipate delivery starting in the next few months, subject to Business Case approval.

Network Rail’s transition from GSM‑R to the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) represents a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to address longstanding gaps in mobile coverage. While FRMCS is primarily an operational 5G communications system, the associated rollout of trackside infrastructure – including masts and fibre – can be leveraged with mobile network operators to reduce ‘not‑spots’ and improve direct‑to‑device connectivity for passengers.

The mandated transition to FRMCS before 2040 is in the planning stages with new infrastructure to be delivered progressively over the next decade, and passenger connectivity benefits realised incrementally as infrastructure is deployed across the network.

Network Rail is exploring options for the shared use of its existing trackside telecommunications infrastructure, including through programmes such as the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) and Project Reach. This includes undertaking studies to determine whether assets such as masts and associated structures could support mobile network operators’ equipment, with opportunities for co‑location and targeted upgrades being actively considered as part of the solution to address coverage gaps along the rail corridor.

Guidance has not been published as a single consolidated document for the telecommunications industry. Instead, requirements are set out through a combination of Network Rail standards, contractual arrangements and programme-specific frameworks, which continue to evolve as delivery models for improved rail connectivity are developed.

The Electronic Communications Code allows for site providers to serve Notices to Quit in specific limited circumstances, including if land is to be redeveloped and is no longer suitable to host telecommunications apparatus, or needs to be moved.

We recognise that mobile operators have raised concerns about the impact of Notices to Quit on the deployment of mobile infrastructure, particularly in more urban areas, as operators search for alternative sites to host equipment. To minimise the impact of this on mobile coverage and capacity, in its recent Call for Evidence on reforms to planning legislation, the government proposed to extend the period by which equipment can be deployed on an emergency basis without planning permission from 18 months to 36 months. This will ensure operators can continue to provide connectivity to local areas without planning permission while they identify new permanent sites. We are considering the responses to this Call for Evidence and will set out the next steps in due course.