08 February 2022

MPs and local authorities have accused the government of failing to deliver on its promise to deliver next-generation-speed broadband to most premises by 2025, following a damning report by parliament’s spending watchdog.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticised prime minister Boris Johnson’s administration’s delivery of the service and warned that it is unlikely to reach even the downgraded target of 2030, which is five years later than the original target.

In its report, published January 19, the PAC accused the government for not having a clear timetable for how it plans to meet even the downgraded target for gigabit-roll out and for relying too heavily on the private sector.

The premises (enterprises and homes) in the UK with access to gigabit broadband rose from 40% to 57% May-October last year. However, this was largely due to Virgin Media O2 upgrading its cable network. According to the PAC’s report, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) “has made little tangible progress in delivering internet connectivity beyond that achieved by the private sector”.

“What DCMS does know full well is it can’t rely on the private sector to get fast broadband to the hardest-to-reach, excluded and rural areas,” said committee chairwoman Dame Meg Hillier MP. “Despite its repeated promises to do exactly that, we are apparently little nearer to closing ‘the great digital divide’ developing across the UK nor addressing the social and economic inequality it brings with it.”

However, a DCMS spokesperson described the report as “misleading” and that the government “remains on track” to deliver next-generation speed broadband in the timeframe it promised.

“We are investing £5bn so hard-to-reach areas can get gigabit speeds, have already upgraded 600,000 premises and in three years national coverage has rocketed from 6% to 65%.”

One suggestion made by local authority leaders is for the government to allow councils to create digital champions to help the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband in the more difficult to reach parts of the country.

Councillor Mark Hawthorne, digital connectivity spokesperson for the Local Government Association (LGA), called on the government for extra funding to make this a reality.

“A local digital champion would be a central contact point for government and broadband providers to help problem solve deployment issues in the local area.” Hawthorne said, adding that “tackling the digital divide will be important to levelling up in every community, ensuring everyone has the connectivity and digital skills they need to thrive”.

Matthew Galley, director of strategic partnerships at Jurassic Fibre, which is rolling out ultrafast full-fibre broadband network to businesses across the west country, said

“Rural communities have long been overlooked by national providers and left behind when it comes to receiving advanced connectivity. This has been brought to light once again by the latest watchdog report,” he added. “We recognise all too well the disparities between cities and less urban areas when it comes to accessing ultrafast broadband.

“We are on a mission to change this, building a full fibre-to-the-premises network in rural areas for homes and businesses. We welcome further support from the government, such as through voucher schemes which help us extend the network to the most remote premises.”