Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Since we took evidence, the government has reduced its coverage target to “a minimum of...
Conclusion
Since we took evidence, the government has reduced its coverage target to “a minimum of 85% by 2025” and the Department has been allocated less than a quarter of the £5 billion for supporting the hardest to reach the countries over the four years to 2025. The National Infrastructure strategy contained no revised date for 100% coverage and no date for when those without access to superfast can expect better broadband. Consumer choice and protection
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
1. 2 The 2020 Spending Review allocated £1.2 billion over 4 years to support the rollout of gigabit- capable broadband, as part of the government’s £5 billion commitment to support rollout to hardest to reach areas (under the UK Gigabit Programme). The spending profile takes into account extensive engagement with suppliers in the telecoms industry, and what it believes the industry will be able to deliver by 2025 in these hard to reach areas at this stage. As set out in the National Infrastructure Strategy, the government expects that by 2025 at least 85% of premises will have access to gigabit-capable connections and the department will continue to work with industry to accelerate the rollout further to get as close to 100% as possible. The department remains committed to investing £5 billion in bringing gigabit coverage to the hardest to reach areas and will continue to work with suppliers to accelerate this investment, taking account of industry capacity.