Digital Telephone Reception

HC Deb 27 February 1998 vol 307 c411W

Mr. Gareth Thomas

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she has taken to improve digital telephone reception in Scotland. [30402]

Mrs. Roche

[holding answer 19 February 1998]: As a result of the introduction of the opening of the market, cable operators now provide digital services in competition to BT to many people living in Scotland. Licences were granted to operators in 1997 to provide radio fixed access services to many areas in the UK including many parts of Scotland. Radio fixed access technology is being introduced to provide digital services across Scotland.

Mobile operators have also rolled out digital networks in the Central Belt and East Coast of Scotland, and there are plans to roll out to remote rural areas over the next two years.

The Government therefore have already taken steps to improve the provision of digital telecommunication services in Scotland. As competition develops further, access to and choice of digital services may well increase.