UK Inquiry Tracker

Improving Broadband

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 20 Oct 2020 Closed: 25 Mar 2021 Parliament page

In 2010, the government announced its aim for the UK to have the “best superfast broadband network in Europe”, and set up the Superfast Programme to subsidise broadband roll out to areas where it is not commercially viable for providers to reach. In a report published in mid-October, the NAO … Read more In 2010, the government announced its aim for the UK to have the “best superfast broadband network in Europe”, and set up the Superfast Programme to subsidise broadband roll out to areas where it is not commercially viable for providers to reach. In a report published in mid-October, the NAO finds that despite wide coverage , many people in the UK still experience poor broadband. Suppliers to the Superfast Programme were encouraged to prioritise roll out to the easiest to reach premises, which means there is a risk that those in the most rural and remote locations will be left further behind. Rural coverage of superfast broadband is now at 80%, compared to 97% in urban areas, and is the lowest in rural Northern Ireland, at just 66%. The existing broadband infrastructure has been put to the test by COVID-19, with concern that the pandemic has exacerbated the rural-urban divide. So far, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has prioritised increasing broadband coverage over speed. While superfast broadband is fast enough for most household use today, internet use is rising by 40% each year driven largely by video streaming and the focus is now on ensuring that the UK has a broadband network that will meet future demand. In 2018, to meet future demands of consumers and businesses, the government announced a new policy for the UK’s telecoms industry to provide infrastructure capable of faster gigabit speeds to 50% of premises by 2025, and nationwide by 2033. At present only 27% of UK premises are covered by gigabit-capable infrastructure. Only 14% can access full-fibre - one of the lowest rates in Europe. The government later committed to accelerating this target and achieving nationwide coverage by 2025. It is still finalising plans for its £5 billion Future Programme, supporting delivery to the hardest to reach 20% of premises, and has much work still to do and little time to do it by its own deadlines. The NAO says Government should set out whether the Future Programme will prioritise the hardest to reach premises first. Delivering these targets will require the telecommunications industry to reach approximately 31 million premises and lay around half a million kilometres of cable. This would require an estimated four-fold increase in building rates, which will be difficult to achieve in the hardest to reach areas. The final 1% of premises could be too expensive to include in the Future Programme at all – for these premises, alternative solutions to gigabit broadband will have to be found. The Committee will question senior officials at DCMS on how Government intends to reach its targets for the UK’s digital connectivity and ensure the UK has a “future proof” digital infrastructure. If you have evidence on the questions and issues raised in this inquiry please submit it here by 6.00pm Wednesday 4 November. Show less

5 Recommendations

17 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

1 Letter

1 Event

Activity timeline 4 events

29 Nov
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Sarah Healey, Permanent Secretary, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, re Improving Broadband, dated 23 N…

26 Mar
2021

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Thirty fifth report from Session 2019-21

8 Jan
2021

Report published

Thirty-fifth Report - Improving Broadband

9 Nov
2020

Oral evidence

Improving broadband

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

9 Nov 2020

View on parliament.uk

Improving broadband

Raj Kalia · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Sarah Healey · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Susannah Storey · Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Thirty-fifth Report - Improving Broadband	HC 688	8 Jan 2021	22	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 results

1 Conclusion Not Addressed

Thirty-fifth Report - Improving Br…

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on improving broadband.1

Government Response

The government response reiterates the committee's introduction, acknowledging that evidence was taken and a report published, and introduces its own response.

HM Treasury

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10 Conclusion Not Addressed

Thirty-fifth Report - Improving Br…

The Department explained that it was focussed on removing barriers to rapid roll out, such...

The Department explained that it was focussed on removing barriers to rapid roll out, such as the cost of streetworks or a planning system that prevents telecoms operators from getting access to premises, by working with other government departments and … Read more

Government Response

The government's response lists various barrier-busting initiatives but completely fails to address the specific conclusion regarding the latest position on state aid rules for broadband subsidy post-Brexit transition period.

HM Treasury

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Government Response AI assessment · 22 of 5 classified

Accepted 16

Acknowledged 4

Not Addressed 2

Total 5 recs + 17 conclusions

Correspondence 1 letter

29 Nov 2021 Correspondence from Sarah Healey, Permanent Secretary, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, re Improving Broadband, dated 23 November 2021

Parliament page