§ 19. Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the level of activity in the telecommunications industry since 1986.
§ Mr. LilleyTelecommunications is one of the most dynamic industries in the United Kingdom. Over the past five years the market has grown rapidly, stimulated by the Government's commitment to competition and increased customer choice. In mobile telephony we have the two largest cellular networks in the world, with 10 times as many customers as in 1986. In March my right hon. Friend announced that we would be ending the duopoly in the fixed telephony market, and allowing new companies to enter the market. We have already received five formal applications for new licences and over 20 strong expressions of interest. This is good for the industry, and good for consumers.