Recommendation 5

HM Government Acknowledged

The Government remains committed to the ‘Outside In’ approach that we outlined in the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review. This is why we are not waiting until commercial delivery is complete before starting to build in the hardest to reach areas under the UK Gigabit Programme. Our programme will also look to prioritise premises without an existing superfast connection, wherever possible. Budget 2020 committed the Government to investing a record £5 billion to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to the hardest to reach premises in the UK, through the UK Gigabit Programme. This record investment was reiterated in the National Infrastructure Strategy published in November 2020. The Spending Review 2020 confirmed that the Government will spend at least £1.2 billion of the £5 billion in the period from April 2021 to March 2025. This spending profile takes into account extensive engagement by the Government with suppliers in the telecoms industry, and what gigabit connectivity the Government believes that the industry will be able to deliver in these hard to reach areas by March 2025 at this stage. However, the Government will accelerate this investment if suppliers can increase build in these areas alongside their commercial build plans. On 22 December, the Government published a consultation, Planning for Gigabit Delivery in 2021, on the Government’s proposed intervention approach, along with procurement maps and timescales for 2021. After this consultation has finished, a procurement pipeline will be published in Spring 2021 and updated regularly. As well as these supply side market interventions, the Government is also intending to extend its successful Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme from April 2021. The scheme allows people in rural areas to request a gigabit-capable connection with the Government subsidising the installation costs. This would help broadband suppliers respond to increasing consumer demand for gigabit-capable broadband while the new procurements get up and running. The Government also intends to continue its programme to connect public and community buildings - such as council houses, schools, libraries and GP surgeries - so they act as full fibre ‘hubs’ off which industry can build their networks and connect surrounding homes and businesses.