§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how may new transmitter masts will be required in the UK to provide complete mobile phone coverage; and if he will breakdown the various size-groups of transmitters to be used. [141369]
§ Ms HewittTo date, mobile operators' networks cover an area in which 99 per cent. of the UK population live. To the best of my knowledge these networks currently use between them 9,000 transmitter masts, of which 2,000 are poles similar in size to a lamppost and 1,700 carry equipment from more than one operator. It is not possible for me to conjecture how many additional transmitter 211W masts will be required in the future although the Government do encourage operators to use existing sites and to share masts wherever it is appropriate to do so.