Recommendation 21

The National Audit Office was concerned that greater competition in the broadband infrastructure market would not necessarily lead to a greater choice of internet providers for consumers. In its report, it explained that in areas that needed subsidy, smaller alternative infrastructure providers could gain dominant positions. Its report also set out a risk that more popular internet providers may not find it commercially attractive to 48 Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, July 2018. Available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-telecoms-infrastructure-review 49 Q 27 50 Qq 26–27, 38–39 51 C&AG’s Report, paras 3.2–3.6 52 Q 40 53 C&AG’s Report, para 3.17 54 Qq 35, 159 55 Q 155 14 Improving Broadband offer their services over many different networks and that consumers, particularly in rural areas, could be left with limited choice.56 The Department told us that it was aware of the risk but said that the contracts for its Superfast Programme enabled wholesale access to a range of internet providers.57 It explained that work was underway outside of government to create a platform to make it easier for internet providers to supply their services over alternative networks but provided no information about when this would be ready.58