11 May 2021

Queen’s Speech 2021: extension to 5G coverage and gigabit broadband pledged

The government’s upcoming legislative agenda has been unveiled in today’s Queen’s Speech including enhanced commitments to extending 5G mobile coverage and high-speed broadband across the UK.

Speaking in the House of Lords, the Queen announced that “[my] government will strengthen national infrastructure [through] proposals to extend 5G mobile coverage and gigabit capable broadband in the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill.

The legislation, which has been dubbed the ‘Telecoms Security Bill’ will also have a strong focus on “cyber attacks” and introduces a number of powers specifically designed to boost the UK's cybersecurity.

This includes new legal duties on telecoms firms to increase security across the entire UK network.

The Queen announced in her speech, which formally opens a new session of Parliament, that the measures laid out would work towards “my government’s priority to deliver a national recovery from the pandemic that makes the United Kingdom stronger, healthier and more prosperous than before”.

"My government will introduce measures to increase the safety and security of its citizens," she added at the State Opening of Parliament 2021.