WIREDGOV

• 4 out 5 UK properties can now access superfast speeds
• Rollout has reached 345,681 homes and businesses in Wales alone
• Latest figures revealed as next stage of tackling the final five per cent of hardest to reach areas in the UK begins

The Government’s nationwide rollout of superfast broadband has now reached more than two million homes and businesses, figures published yesterday (Monday 9 February) reveal. Of these, more than 345,681 properties in Wales are now enjoying access to faster speeds.

The rollout is delivering superfast access - internet speeds greater than 24 Mbps - to those properties not covered by existing commercial networks and is on track to take superfast access to 95 per cent of the UK by 2017. The UK already leads the EU “big five” nations when it comes to superfast access and take-up and the programme will ensure it stays ahead.

Government recognises the importance of a fast internet connection to individuals and businesses alike, and its £1.7bn investment in the rollout is a key part of the Government’s long term economic plan. Around 80 per cent of the UK already has access to superfast speeds, and the rollout is currently reaching an additional 40,000 homes and businesses every week.

Wales Office minister Alun Cairns said yesterday:

The Government’s long term economic plan is all about backing businesses and creating the right conditions for them to grow.

Superfast broadband helps businesses to work effectively. It is no wonder south Wales was recently announced as one of the UK’s fastest growing tech clusters.

Reaching this milestone shows the huge transformation in our digital landscape and how determined we are to get as many people as possible online.

Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said yesterday:

Today there are two million more UK homes and businesses with access to superfast broadband than there were two years ago as a result of this ambitious project.

This is a tremendous result that is already making a huge difference to millions of people. We want everyone in the UK to be able to enjoy the benefits of superfast broadband, that’s why we’ve begun work on reaching the last five per cent of communities not covered by existing plans.

Faster broadband is a catalyst for economic growth, and its estimated that the Government rollout will result in the creation of 56,000 more jobs in the UK by 2024. Superfast broadband will be pivotal in driving profits for local businesses, and rural economies are set to benefit by around £9 million every day due to the work being done now.

Project partners BT Openreach are now rolling out the fibre-optic cable at maximum speed, with great progress to date in each area of Wales.

Joe Garner, CEO of Openreach, BT’s local network business, said:

We’re proud to be delivering this great British success story in partnership with theGovernment, and have committed up to £1billion of our shareholders’ money to theprojects.

The programme is on schedule overall and our people continue to work flat-outon connecting homes and business in the UK’s hard-to-reach areas.

If we come in under budget, savings can be reinvested to take coverage even further. Funds will also bereleased if take-up exceeds expectations, all of which is further great value for thetaxpayer.

The Government’s rollout clearly demonstrates value for money, and much of the current work is already ahead of schedule. Focus is now firmly placed on the hardest to reach areas that make up the “final five per cent” and Government has already begun work on extending superfast coverage to these communities.

The Government confirmed yesterday that seven pilot schemes aimed at helping to reach these areas will now move into deployment, having successfully completed the first stage of a trial period.

The seven schemes will:

• Generate evidence about the cost of delivering superfast speeds in these hardest to reach areas, in order to better understand the level of public investment that will be needed
• Build capacity and capability in the market, and increase the market’s knowledge of State aid requirements, by sharing the pilot findings as widely as possible
• Generate evidence about expected levels of take-up in hardest to reach areas, and how it can be incentivised