Govt confirms 1Gbps internet aim, but doesn’t set a date

The Government has confirmed its intention to make gigabit broadband (1Gbps or 1,000Mbps) available to all UK premises, but hasn’t set a year by which it will achieve this.

In the Queen’s Speech delivered on 19 December, the Government announced plans to pass new laws to “accelerate the delivery of gigabit capable broadband”. In a statement released afterwards, the Government said it aimed to achieve this “as soon as possible”.

In June, while campaigning to become Conservative leader, Boris Johnson called for full-fibre broadband to be delivered nationwide by 2025.

The Government didn’t mention that date during the previous Queen’s Speech, which took place on 14 October, forcing Digital Secretary Nicky Morgan to confirm afterwards that the

Government’s “very ambitious” plan was to roll out “gigabit-capable” broadband by 2025.

Her reference to ‘gigabit’ broadband was significant because it suggested the Government is considering various ways of delivering 1Gbps, not just via full-fibre cables. These include using 5G, or Virgin Media’s cables, which are a hybrid of fibre and coaxial, allowing for the provision of TV services, too.

Most experts agree that this strategy is more realistic than using only full-fibre cables.

The Government also said it will introduce new laws to guarantee “more reliable internet connections for people living in flats”, and to ensure that new homes “are built with the fastest connectivity available”.

A day after the December Queen’s Speech, Ofcom said a tenth of UK homes (around 3 million) can now get 1Gbps, up from 1.4m in 2018.

The figures, from the regulator’s annual Connected Nations report ( www.snipca. com/33675), also show that 95 per cent of homes can get ‘super-fast’ broadband (30Mbps), while ‘ultra-fast’ speeds (300Mbps) are available to 53 per cent.

However, around 155,000 rural properties can’t get a “decent” broadband connection, defined as 10Mbps.

How fast do you need your broadband to be? Let us know: letters@computeractive.co.uk