Consultation outcome

Summary of consultation responses and next steps

Updated 18 March 2024

1. Introduction 

The Shared Rural Network (SRN) is a world-leading £1 billion government deal with the UK’s four Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), EE, VMO2, Three and Vodafone, that will see both public and private investment in a network of new and existing phone masts closing not-spots and levelling up connectivity across every corner of the UK. The SRN is overseen by Building Digital UK (BDUK), a specialist delivery Executive Agency of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)  

The TNS project addresses market failure, targeting areas where there is no coverage, and which are unlikely to see any roll-out soon. TNS has been developed in compliance with the UK’s subsidy obligations under the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA); including the publication of a transparency notice on 11th March 2021, which set out how the programme complied with TCA and proportionately tackles market failures. BDUK is committing grant funding of c.£301m to Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL) for the TNS deployment, a joint delivery vehicle which the four MNOs have repurposed to be the recipient of the grant funding and to support such delivery. This will fund the construction of entirely new infrastructure for areas with no coverage. 

There may continue to be small amendments to the coverage area as the project goes into its site search and acquisitions phase, however, these are unlikely to be material. If they become material, we will consider re-consulting on them.

2. About this consultation

The consultation document was published on the GOV.UK website here, and the full list of questions is in Annex A of this document. A full list of respondents can be found in Annex B at the end of this document.

3. Method

The consultation took place over a four-week period from 29 June 2021 to 27 July 2021. Respondents were invited to answer the questions either by email to bduk-srn@dcms.gov.uk or in writing to:

Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
100 Parliament Street
London
SW1A 2BQ
United Kingdom

4. Summary of responses

In total, we received eight responses: from four telecommunications companies; the Scottish Government; North Yorkshire County Council; and two digital infrastructure companies. The respondents did not identify any concerns with the measure. Six of the responses showed planned or current investment in providing mobile coverage in rural Scotland, with some providing potential site locations for TNS. One respondent did not consent for information to be shared with DMSL or the Mobile Network Operators.

5. Government response to the consultation and next steps

The consultation responses as per consents provided have been passed onto DMSL and the MNOs, who are accounting for these in their viability and commercial assessments for the programme. DMSL has reached out to some respondents and may reach out to others who own existing infrastructure in the TNS target intervention area (or have plans to deploy in future). Existing infrastructure will be utilised where practicable, ensuring value for money.

Where the sites, or satellites, could prove useful in provision of coverage to TNS areas, DMSL may contact the respondents directly to discuss whether the infrastructure is technically suitable for use in the TNS project. If it looks to represent improved value for money to utilise these sites or existing infrastructure, DMSL or the MNOs will then proceed with commercial discussions with the owners. The impact of this approach will be to ensure that taxpayers money is being effectively utilised and that the TNS project complies with subsidy control rules.

6. Annex A – List of consultation questions

Question 1 If you are a provider of digital infrastructure services, do you have any current or planned (next 3 years) investments in the TNS target areas indicated in red on the maps? 

Question 2 If you are an interested party regarding digital infrastructure services, do you have any current or planned (next 3 years) investments in the TNS target areas indicated in red on the maps? 

Question 3 If you are a member of the public, do you have or are you aware of any current or planned (next 3 years) investments in the TNS target areas indicated in red on the maps? 

Question 4 If you have answered yes to any of the questions above, please provide information concerning current or planned (next 3 years) investments in the TNS target areas indicated in red on the maps.

7. Annex B – Respondents to the consultation

Organisation	Sector
NEOS Network	Digital infrastructure company
Scottish Government	Devolved Assembly
OneWeb	Digital infrastructure company
BT	Telecommunications company
North Yorkshire County Council	County Council
Wireless Infrastructure Group	Telecommunications company
Mavenir	Telecommunications company
WHP Telecoms	Telecommunications company