Free broadband upgrade

PEOPLE with with poor broadband connectivity in Halton could be eligible for a free upgrade from the Government next year.

As part of its commitment to ensuring the UK has world-class digital connectivity and inclusion, the Government has announced the Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband.

The USO is intended as a ‘safetynet’ to deliver broadband to those premises that do not have access to a decent and affordable connection. They define this as a connection that can deliver 10 megabits per second (Mbps) download speed and one Mbps upload speed, and costs less than £45 per month.

If a premises’ broadband falls below these standards, and is not due to be connected to a publicly funded roll-out scheme within a year, the USO provides a legal right to request a decent broadband connection from the Government, up to a cost threshold of £3,400.

Alternatively, the customer can choose to pay the excess if the cost of installing decent broadband would be more than that amount.

Consumers and businesses will be able to request connections from March 20, 2020.

As of May this year, there were 181 homes and businesses in Runcorn and Widnes that did not have a decent connection, which works out as just 0.3%. Across the rest of the Liverpool City Region, there were 3,011 homes and businesses in that did not have a decent connection.

While remote rural areas are the most impacted, those living in particularly deprived urban areas can also often struggle with broadband connectivity.

Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom’s consumer group director, said: “As more of our daily lives move online, bringing better broadband to people and businesses is crucial.

“From next year, this new broadband safety net will give everyone a legal right to request a decent connection – whether you live in a city or a hamlet.

“This will be vital for people who are struggling to get the broadband they need.”