EE has upgraded its 4G coverage to twelve more sites in Daventry over the past few months. These include a 4G upgrade to the sites covering Great and Little Oxenden, West Haddon, an upgrade along the A14 above Maidwell, the site covering the M1 near Rothersthorpe, two sites near Nether Heyford, three sites in the Kilsby area, a site along the A14 near Naseby and the sites serving Brixworth and Harpole.
In the 21st Century, having a reliable means of communication is one of the most important things available to people, and I am extremely pleased at EE's announcement. Ministers have ensured that 4G speeds become the norm, and signed a landmark deal with the four main mobile networks to invest £5 billion in the UK communications network, guaranteeing 90 per cent of the UK's landmass will have mobile reception by 2017. Alongside other programmes, this will ensure that 98 per cent of people will be able to get 4G mobile coverage by 2017.
Going forward, the Government will now ensure that Britain seizes the chance to be a world leader in the development of 5G, playing a key role in defining industry standards, as well as continuing investment in mobile infrastructure to ensure that everybody can benefit from good voice and text coverage. Through the Digital Economy Bill currently before the House, the Government is reforming the out-dated Electronic Communications Code, to better regulate the relationship between communications operators and landowners. This will deliver better coverage in rural areas through greater investment and faster rollout of mobile and broadband infrastructure.