MPs have criticised the government’s failure to offer superfast broadband in the country, leaving many areas that are difficult to reach.
According to the Commons public accounting committee, it is unlikely that Project Gigabit will meet its downgraded targets.
A new report claims that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has made “little tangible improvements” over what is being achieved in the private sector.
According to the report, a significant increase in access rates, which rose from 40% to 57% between May and October 2013, was due to Virgin Media O2’s upgrade of its cable network.
The Government committed in 2019 to fund ‘gigabit-capable’ broadband for hard-to-reach areas, with all covered by 2025 – but this was revised to 85 per cent (stock image)
The panel stated that the target of complete coverage in 2030 will still not be met for 134,000 properties located in the most difficult to reach locations.
The Government committed in 2019 to fund ‘gigabit-capable’ broadband for the hardest to reach 20 per cent of homes and businesses, with all covered by 2025 – but now revised to 85 per cent.
The superfast internet speeds are over 16 times faster that the average UK household.
According to the committee, they are concerned that the emphasis was placed on “accelerating coverage by rollout commercial operators instead of prioritising areas it knows will be hardest reached risks areas that require improved connectivity most, and being again left behind”.
DCMS has made “little tangible progress” in improving broadband, according to a report. Virgin Media O2 updated its cable network and this led to a surge in people with internet access.
The report stated that there appears to be no detailed plan to reach communities in areas where this isn’t economically feasible.
Chairman, Dame Meg Hillier MP stated: “DCMS” planning and project management show all signs of previous rollouts – the emphasis will remain on easier areas while there is no plan in place for those who are most difficult to reach.
DCMS was unable to explain the progress broadband made in its critical national strategy. It could only say that it did so ‘thanks Virgin Media’. And, amazingly, it doesn’t even have any plan on how it will get to the remaining targets.
“DCMS knows full well that it cannot rely on private sector broadband providers to provide fast internet access to rural and excluded areas. Despite repeated promises, we seem to be little closer to closing the ‘great digital divide’ in the UK and the associated social and economic inequality.