{"value":{"id":1290331,"askingMemberId":3943,"askingMember":null,"house":"Commons","memberHasInterest":false,"dateTabled":"2021-02-26T00:00:00","dateForAnswer":"2021-03-02T00:00:00","uin":"159276","questionText":"To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to tackle infrastructure weaknesses  that are a barrier to the roll out of smart meters in rural areas.","answeringBodyId":201,"answeringBodyName":"Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy","isWithdrawn":false,"isNamedDay":false,"groupedQuestions":[],"answerIsHolding":false,"answerIsCorrection":false,"answeringMemberId":4531,"answeringMember":null,"correctingMemberId":null,"correctingMember":null,"dateAnswered":"2021-03-08T00:00:00","answerText":"<p>Second generation smart meters use a dedicated national smart metering communications network, which uses a variety of technologies to deliver connectivity to premises. These include cellular mobile technology plus wireless mesh radio, and long-range radio technology.</p><p> </p><p>The Data Communications Company (DCC), which operates the national communications infrastructure for smart metering, is obligated under the conditions of its licence to provide communications coverage to at least 99.25% of premises across Great Britain.</p><p> </p><p>The DCC is required by its licence conditions to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of coverage beyond its contractual requirements where it is practicable and cost proportionate.</p>","originalAnswerText":"","comparableAnswerText":"","dateAnswerCorrected":null,"dateHoldingAnswer":null,"attachmentCount":0,"heading":"Energy: Meters","attachments":[],"groupedQuestionsDates":[]},"links":[{"rel":"self","href":"/Questions/1290331","method":"GET"}]}