Norfolk County Council is awaiting decisions on broadband coverage gaps in parts of the county, with the Project Gigabit programme expected to confirm plans for areas including Clenchwarton before the end of 2026.

The Infrastructure and Development Select Committee heard on 10 September that procurement under Project Gigabit — the government scheme to bring gigabit-speed broadband to hard-to-reach areas — was progressing well, with delays limited only to areas not yet commissioned. The Director of Digital and Transformation, Geoff Connell, told the committee that further details would be shared once decisions were confirmed.

Councillors raised concerns that some residents were being left behind while providers pressed ahead in more commercially attractive areas. Officers said priority would be given to the most underserved locations.

On mobile connectivity, the council confirmed it had written to Ofcom on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Agriculture, Cllr Kabeer Kher, to challenge how mobile network operators report their coverage. The council has gathered its own local data showing significant gaps that contradict figures used by providers to demonstrate adequate coverage to the regulator.

Ofcom responded positively and is now using Norfolk's data to support its monitoring and challenge of providers. However, councillors were told that direct engagement with mobile network operators had remained difficult, though improvements were being made.

The committee agreed to recommend that a joint letter from the committee chair and the Cabinet Member be sent to Norfolk MPs and the responsible minister, pressing for action on poor mobile connectivity and highlighting the discrepancy between local data and industry claims.

Members also discussed opposition to new phone masts in residential areas, noting that planning objections could slow improvements. Officers said some providers had already approached the council before submitting applications to identify suitable locations such as tall buildings.

The committee agreed that an update on Local Transport Plan progress and a flooding preparedness report should come to a future meeting.