Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any actions being taken to improve mobile phone service.
Minister for the Economy: As you are aware, Telecommunications policy is a reserved matter with the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) holding the policy responsibility on improvements to mobile connectivity. The Department for the Economy (DfE) maintains regular contact with DSIT ensuring that all local issues are given appropriate consideration for any policy decisions taken regarding the improvement of telecommunications here. Mobile infrastructure is currently provided on a wholly commercial basis by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), however, my officials are involved in a number of initiatives which will help improve mobile connectivity here. These include the Mobile Action Plan and the Barrier Busting Taskforce which aims to identify the main issues that impact on the roll-out of mobile technologies and provide solutions to remove barriers that prevent the fast and efficient deployment of mobile connectivity here. My officials also support the digital infrastructure elements of the City and Growth deals which have mobile connectivity proposals designed to improve roll out. They are also investigating potential alternative funding streams to establish their viability for extending/ improving mobile connectivity in the North.
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