Summary: We are committing £5 billion to support spreading broadband to the hardest-to-reach 20 per cent of the country.
- Investment in our broadband infrastructure is vital, not just to boost growth, but to make areas attractive places to live and work, as well as to rejuvenate communities that feel left behind.
- We want everyone in the UK to benefit from world-class connectivity no matter where they live, work or travel. We are committing £5 billion to deliver gigabit-capable broadband for all the UK, including the hardest to reach areas – helping communities across the country to prosper.
- We will ensure no part of this country is left behind and that no business is held back due to poor infrastructure, making life easier for families, boosting productivity and raising living standards.
Background
- Gigabit broadband is faster, more reliable, and more affordable to operate than copper-based networks. Gigabit broadband is 40 times faster than existing ‘superfast’ broadband, benefitting families across the country and improving business productivity.
Our solution
- We are investing £5 billion to support rollout in the hardest to reach 20 per cent of the country – doubling our previous commitment to support rollout to the hardest 10 pent. This investment will provide bespoke solutions to the 20 per cent hardest-to-reach areas so they are not left behind. We will rollout this gigabit broadband under a dramatically faster timetable than previously planned.
- This will benefit the 5.6 million small and medium sized businesses, improving their productivity and ensuring they are not held back from poor infrastructure. Small and medium sized businesses account for 60 per cent of private sector employment and over 50 per cent of business revenues. Even more than residential consumers, they require fast and reliable broadband.
Conservative record
• Providing the basis for our ambitious gigabit broadband plans by already unlocking over £1 billion investment into the technology. We are supporting competitive commercial investment into full fibre through the £400 million Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund, which is expected to unlock over £1 billion investment in full fibre.
Q: What about the 2025 full fibre target?
Today’s announcement is only about government support for the hardest-to-reach premises. But it underlines our determination that every household in the UK should have access to gigabit broadband and puts real money behind it. These are all positive steps and over the next few months, we will work to dramatically speed up the rollout of fast, reliable and secure broadband and get gigabit speeds right across the UK.
