Question follow-through · 119373
Telecommunications Cables
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of alternate infrastructure to replace copper wire ADSL systems.
About this written question
A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.
- Answering body
- Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
- Tabled
- 10 Mar 2026
- Target answer date
- 12 Mar 2026
- Answer
- 18 Mar 2026 · 8 calendar days after tabling
Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.
Recorded timeline
10 Mar 2026
Question tabled
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of alternate infrastructure to replace copper wire ADSL systems.
12 Mar 2026
Target answer date
Date supplied by the official written-questions record.
18 Mar 2026
Answer published
ADSL relies on the copper based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The PSTN is increasingly unreliable and prone to failure. In 2024/25 there were over 2,600 major incidents on the PSTN, each affecting 500 or more customers. This is why industry ha...
Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.
Later records
Possible follow-up questions
Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.
Science and Technology Facilities Council: Finance
15 May 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Department has conducted an impact assessment on changes in the level of funding by the Science and Technology Facilities Council on trends in the level of (a) economic deve
Science and Technology Facilities Council: Finance
15 May 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions her Department has had with the Institute of Physics and Royal Astronomical Society on the planned changes to the budget of the Science and Technology Facilities Counci