Robert has welcomed the news that, as part of the Government's Project Gigabit, over 68,000 homes across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire will get access to top-of-the-range broadband connections.

Robert is delighted that a scheme to extend mobile coverage in hard-to-reach rural areas making poor mobile phone coverage a thing of the past has been given the green light, thanks to a major new deal between the Government and UK mobile network operators.

Robert said: "This Government is investing £5 billion to rollout gigabit broadband across the country, with funding targetted at the hardest to reach rural areas. We want everyone in the UK to benefit from world-class connectivity no matter where they live, work or travel.

Robert, who led calls for a Shared Rural Network to extend mobile rural coverage to hard-to-reach areas, says a new deal between Government and the phone industry will mean that poor mobile coverage in parts of West Oxfordshire and elsewhere will be a thing of the past.

Digital Secretary Nicky Morgan has launched a £30 million UK-wide competition to spark a tech revolution in countryside communities and help rural Britain seize the opportunities of 5G technology.

We have made great strides recently to improve broadband connectivity in West Oxfordshire - but we still have work to do.

Robert said: "Pleased to join with colleagues to write to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Wright, to ask the Government to make it a requirement that network operators enable roaming between providers to improve mobile coverage in rural areas.

Robert said: "Great to catch up with Openreach to discuss how we can improve digital connectivity across West Oxfordshire.

Robert has attended Rural Vulnerability Day and picked up a copy of a report on rural services. 

2018 was a very busy year indeed with much to celebrate both locally and nationally. Here are just some of my highlights from last year - in 60 seconds!

Robert Courts MP