MP's appeal to have free internet at military HQs

Portsmouth South MP Flick Drummond has urged Whitehall to axe some monthly subscription fees serving soldiers, airmen and sailors need to pay and increase provision of free internet services.

Responding, defence minister Mark Lancaster stressed there was no programme to deliver free wi-fi to personnel.

However he said the Royal Navy had already rolled out free internet at six navy and Royal Marine establishments, with further plans to increase this, depending on funding.

Likewise, the minister explained the provision for wi-fi within army accommodation was under contract and said there were no current plans for the force to provide a free service. The RAF has a wi-fi scheme running in some bases’ communal areas.

But he added once ‘global connectivity’ was in place across defence, wi-fi could be requested through a catalogue service, subject to available funding.