Superfast broadband reaches 2 million more homes & businesses
Latest figures revealed as next stage of tackling the final 5% of hardest to reach areas in the UK begins.
The Government’s nationwide rollout of superfast broadband has now reached more than two million homes and businesses, figures published today (Monday 9 February) reveal.
The rollout is delivering superfast access - internet speeds greater than 24 Mbps - to those properties not covered by existing commercial networks and is on track to take superfast access to 95 per cent of the UK by 2017. The UK already leads the EU “big five” nations when it comes to superfast access and take-up and the programme will ensure it stays ahead.
Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said:
Today there are two million more UK homes and businesses with access to superfast broadband than there were two years ago as a result of this ambitious project. This is a tremendous result that is already making a huge difference to millions of people. We want everyone in the UK to be able to enjoy the benefits of superfast broadband, that’s why we’ve begun work on reaching the last five per cent of communities not covered by existing plans.
The Government’s rollout clearly demonstrates value for money, and much of the current work is already ahead of schedule. Focus is now firmly placed on the hardest to reach areas that make up the “final five per cent” of the UK not covered by existing plans, and Government has already begun work on extending superfast coverage to these communities.
The Government confirmed today that seven pilot schemes aimed at helping to reach these areas will now move into deployment, having successfully completed the first stage of a trial period. One of the trials in Exmoor will very shortly be delivering superfast broadband to homes via satellite delivery. This is the first time that satellite will be used to deliver superfast speeds to residential customers in the UK at affordable prices.
Ed Vaizey announces Government’s broadband rollout has passed 2m premises