Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Paragraph: 89
The Government should outline in its response to this Report, if not before, what the...
Recommendation
The Government should outline in its response to this Report, if not before, what the Spending Review and 85% target mean for its ‘outside-in’ ambition and its strategy for delivering to those semi-urban areas unlikely to benefit from commercial roll- out. Given the centrality of the principle of levelling-up to the Government and its National Infrastructure Strategy, we recommend it continues to prioritise those with worst connectivity.
Paragraph Reference:
89
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Over 96% of UK premises have access to superfast broadband, which is one of the highest rates in Europe. Over five million UK premises with access to superfast broadband have it as a result of the Government’s Superfast Programme. The current broadband network has performed well during the Covid-19 pandemic, as Ofcom set out in their latest UK Home Broadband Performance report. However, the Government recognises that demand for higher capacity and more reliable broadband is growing. This is why we are working to deliver nationwide gigabit-capable broadband as soon as possible, why we have committed £5 billion to delivering gigabit-capable broadband to the least commercial 20% of UK premises, and why we are starting subsidised build in these areas at the same time that the industry is ramping up delivery to more commercial areas. In the period to 2025, the Government is targeting a minimum of 85% gigabit-capable coverage, including at least five percentage points of coverage in the hardest to reach areas of the country. However, we will work with industry to accelerate delivery in these areas, and get as close to 100% as possible. The Government’s planned procurements for gigabit connectivity will also seek to prioritise delivery to premises without an existing superfast connection. We have already been delivering gigabit connectivity in these harder to reach areas through our Superfast, Local Full Fibre Networks and Rural Connectivity Programmes. Since 2018, we have delivered gigabit-capable broadband to over half a million homes and businesses. Furthermore, between September and December 2020, we approved £640 million of new Superfast contracts across the UK which will provide improved connectivity to a further 248,000 premises, the bulk of which will be gigabit capable. Following the consultation on the UK Gigabit Programme’s delivery strategy published in 2020, we will be publishing a pipeline of areas for initial deployment through the £5 billion UK Gigabit Programme in Spring 2021.