Mobile Infrastructure Project Impact and Benefits Report
This document reports the outcomes, benefits and cost effectiveness of the Mobile Infrastructure Project.
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The Benefits and Impact Report shows that the Mobile Infrastructure Project has delivered 2G, 3G and 4G mobile connectivity through 75 mobile masts to 7,199 premises which previously had no mobile signal, more than had been estimated in the most recent business case. The evaluation showed that communities greatly appreciate the improved mobile connectivity and that it brings a variety of benefits to those communities. It also showed that government intervention was warranted, that delivery costs were lower than expected, and value for money greater than estimated in the re-baselined business case. The learning from the Project has held shaped government mobile strategy on mobile connectivity, spurring Government to broker more ambitious coverage requirements from the mobile operators as part of their spectrum licence conditions.
The MIP project was announced in October 2011 by the Chancellor, as part of the National Infrastructure Plan. Its objectives were to support economic growth in the UK, including in rural areas; improve the coverage and quality of mobile network services, for consumers and businesses that live and work in areas of the UK where existing mobile network coverage was poor or non-existent. DCMS signed a contract with Arqiva on in 2013 to search and acquire mobile mast sites; and then build and manage the masts. The cost of erecting the masts was met by Government while the running costs of the mast sites built would be met by the Mobile Network Operators for 20 years.