Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Victoria Vyvyan said:

 “As ever the needs of rural communities are being ignored. Today’s National Audit Office report on mobile connectivity recognises the CLA’s ongoing concern that mobile network operators will not be able to meet the deadlines set by Government on deploying 95% geographic 4G coverage by the start of 2026.

 “Failure to meet the agreed deadlines simply perpetuates the ongoing rural-urban digital divide, holding rural businesses back and hitting economic growth.

 “There should be no more excuses. If deadlines that had already been agreed by both government and the mobile industry cannot be met, it is now time to look at different solutions. The CLA wants to see the government impose national rural roaming on operators if they are unable to meet their commitments.”

 The report is here: https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/supporting-mobile-connectivity/