Government 'moves broadband goalposts'

Government 'moves broadband goalposts'

The Government has admitted that it cannot hit its target of rolling out superfast broadband to 90 per cent of the UK population by 2015.

Instead, it has announced a new deadline of 2017, by which it said 95 per cent of the UK would be able to access the faster services.

However, around five million homes will now have to wait longer before they are upgraded from basic internet speeds. They cannot access services such as the BBC’s iPlayer and they are hampered if they want to work remotely from home. Most of the households with connectivity problems are in rural areas.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller said: “Access to high speed connectivity is vital to the UK’s economic future, and drives growth and jobs across the country.

“Every week, 100,000 more homes and businesses are getting access to superfast broadband, and our broadband is already among the best in Europe when it comes to coverage, usage, and choice. But we want to go even further and that’s why we are now setting a new target to reach 95 per cent of premises by 2017.”

A further £250 million is being invested into the scheme, which the Government expects to be match-funded by industry as part of the further infrastructure roll-out. The upgrade, designed to connect hard-to-reach rural areas, was originally announced in 2010.

Shadow minister for media and communications, Helen Goodman told The Guardian: "This is the third time the Government has moved the goalposts.

"They are trying to make it look like a golden fleece, when they've made a pig's ear."

The Government also announced changes to plans to create 22 superfast cities under the £150 million Urban Broadband Fund. Chancellor Gorge Osborne said that some of the money will be used for vouchers for small businesses to upgrade their digital skills.

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