Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
The Department expects commercial operators will supply broadband infrastructure where profitable, and that this will...
Conclusion
The Department expects commercial operators will supply broadband infrastructure where profitable, and that this will provide up to 80% of the UK’s coverage.27 To achieve the additional coverage needed to meet its 85% target, the Department plans to provide subsidies in the form of a gigabit voucher scheme28 and the public sector hub programme29 as well as the extension of existing superfast broadband contracts to provide gigabit connections.30
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Introduction from the Committee The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (the Department) is responsible for delivering the government’s policies on increasing economic growth and productivity through improved digital connectivity. Central to this is its target of rolling out gigabit-capable infrastructure capable of download speeds of at least 1000 megabits per second (Mbps) to at least 85% of UK premises by 2025. Although superfast broadband (download speed of at least 30 Mbps) is fast enough for most household use today, global internet traffic is growing by around 40% each year. Gigabit-capable broadband, such as full fibre, can provide speeds of over 1,000Mbps, fast enough to download a High-Definition (HD) film in seconds. In 2019, the Department revised its target of achieving nationwide full-fibre coverage by 2033 to achieving nationwide gigabit-capable coverage by 2025. In 2020 it revised this again, to at least 85% of UK premises having access to gigabit-broadband by 2025. Despite having revised its target, the Department also plans to accelerate rollout to get as close to 100% nationwide coverage as is possible in that time. The Department expects that commercial operators will supply broadband infrastructure where profitable, and that this will provide up to 80% of the UK’s coverage. These providers include large firms like Openreach and Virgin Media O2, and smaller providers, known as alternative networks or “alt-nets”. The Department is working with these operators to provide subsidies to build gigabit infrastructure in less commercially viable areas. In addition, it is providing funding through the gigabit voucher scheme as immediate help for people experiencing slow broadband speeds in rural areas. The government has allocated £1.2 billion to rolling out gigabit by 2025, with a further £3.8 billion reserved for future years.