Mobile phone deal will give UK 90 percent geographical coverage

Mobile phone operators have struck a deal with the UK government to fill in partial gaps in mobile coverage in a move intended to give 90 percent geographical cover from the four big networks by 2017.

Sajid Javid, the Culture Secretary, said the agreement would not cost the government any money for the moment. But he dropped a heavy hint that the regulator might cut the annual license fee that operators pay in future. Sec Javid said the legally binding deal with the four mobile networks -- EE, O2, Three and Vodafone -- would reduce poor coverage that currently affects more than a fifth of the country. Under the agreement, the four networks have collectively agreed to £5bn of investment by 2017, and guaranteed voice and text coverage across 90 percent of the UK by the same year.