Arqiva granted £150 million contract for rural mobile infrastructure development by the government
Hey there! Let's chat about the UK's efforts to improve mobile networking services in rural areas, shall we?
Back in 2011, the British government rolled out the Mobile Infrastructure Project (MIP), with a goal to tackle the poor coverage and quality of mobile services in areas where 5-10% of the population struggle to stay connected. Particularly, the project intended to eradicate so-called "not spots", where coverage is non-existent.
A report by Ofcom published in 2011 revealed that Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland had a high concentration of these "not spots". The MIP project received the green light from the European Commission in December 2020. All four major mobile operators, EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three, have signed up to use and operate the MIP infrastructure once it's complete.
Recently, engineering titan Arqiva has been given a £150 million contract to build more mobile infrastructure in rural areas. This marks the start of the implementation phase, which will include the selection of sites and installation of necessary infrastructure.
Arqiva's appointment followed a fierce competition, demonstrating the thoroughness of the procurement process. Plus, good mobile connectivity is becoming increasingly crucial for businesses and individuals, as observed by Culture Minister Ed Vaizey.
It's worth mentioning that Arqiva has a vast portfolio in the UK, building and operating much of the telecommunications infrastructure, such as the digital TV broadcast network. They faced criticism earlier this year for their tax payment record, claiming they have paid no corporation tax in four years. However, the company argues that this is due to substantial investments in the UK's Digital Switch Over program, resulting in more than offsetting tax liabilities.
Just a quick side note: the history and developments of this project have been quite fascinating; from the debut of cellular phones in the 80s to the introduction of 5G in 2019. It's apparent that advances in telecommunications have been essential for growing mobile connectivity, both urban and rural areas alike. Let's keep the momentum going!
In the light of Arqiva's massive portfolio in the UK, building and operating much of the telecommunications infrastructure including digital TV broadcast network, the company's £150 million contract to build more mobile infrastructure in rural areas signifies a significant leap in the incorporation of technology, such as gadgets relying on mobile networking, in these areas. Further developments in technology, like the introduction of 5G in 2019, are indicative of continuous efforts to improve mobile connectivity across the UK, Urban or rural.
