Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 23
23
In our January 2021 report, we found that the most difficult to reach areas were...
Conclusion
In our January 2021 report, we found that the most difficult to reach areas were not neatly grouped together, and the Department was not yet clear how it would prioritise its interventions to ensure that they are served. As the Department expects that areas 64 Committee of Public Accounts Committee, Improving Broadband, Thirty-fifth Report of Session 2019–21, HC 688, 8 January 2021, para 1 65 Q 13, 15, 16, 19 66 Delivering a gigabit-capable UK: Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy, June 2021, para 3.3 67 Qq 11–3 68 County All-Party Parliamentary Group, Levelling Up Digital Connectivity in Counties, October 2021, p. 5 69 Qq 31–32 70 Q 31 Delivering gigabit-capable broadband 17 it classifies as “urban” will largely be covered by commercial building, its procurement prioritises rural areas with the greatest proportions of premises that are unable to receive superfast broadband speeds (30 Mbps).71 This means that it does not intend to sign contracts for areas including Birmingham and the Black Country, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, Greater London and Newcastle and North Tyneside until the later stages of the procurement process.72 Nevertheless, predominantly urban settings can have some rural areas within them. We queried whether this approach took account of the fact that neighbouring areas within the same region may have very different needs.73 For example, we observed that despite being within the same region Birmingham and the Black Country are likely to have different connectivity requirements.74 This is also the case for Edmonton in Greater London, where there are pockets of very poor service in a largely urban area.75
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
6.2 BDUK will publish its profile to reach at least 5% of non-commercial premises by the end of 2025 in its 2022-23 corporate plan. As well as achieving the 85% target, the contracts that BDUK is currently procuring are also the route by which the government’s nationwide coverage objective is achieved. Quarterly updates on BDUK’s pipeline of Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy contracts, including premises numbers and indicative values, will continue to be published. 6.3 UK gigabit coverage beyond the 85% target would need to increase at an annualised 900,000 premises per year (subsidised and privately built) to achieve nationwide coverage by 2030. To build a credible and evidence-based profile for delivery beyond 2025 in the UK’s dynamic market, the department will need to reach three key milestones: • completion of all remaining market surveys to identify and understand the relevant suppliers’ build plans, including where commercial plans will mean that premises can be descoped from its contracts; • signing a material number of contracts to provide evidence on supplier interest in BDUK’s subsidies and the pace at which they’re committed to deliver their implementation plans; and • achieving sufficient clarity on the number of premises likely to be beyond the scope of the programme. 6.4 BDUK expects these actions to have been completed in order to be ready to form more robust profiles for the period beyond 2025 by Summer 2023. While this work is in progress, BDUK will provide information on the outcome of its procurements when they are signed, sharing the expected delivery plans up to 2025 and beyond for each contracted area. 6.5 In March 2021, a call for evidence was made to explore all possible options for improving broadband connectivity for these Very Hard to Reach premises. The government published its response in February 2022 bringing together its analysis and evidence from stakeholders. 6.6 This evidence will be used to assess policy options to understand how best to address the small minority of premises that will be beyond the scope of the programme and unable to access gigabit-capable connections. The department will publish further details later this year. 6.7 As part of its assessment process, the department will consider all available solutions and technology types. As equipment improves and technology standards are updated, it will continue to engage with stakeholders to understand how these technologies can best address Very Hard to Reach premises. 6.8 The department will address this recommendation in its letter to the Committee.