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Ambitious plans for universal broadband access
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THE NUMBER OF UK PROPERTIES unable to get a decent broadband connection has fallen by one million over the past year , new research by Ofcom has found .
But 1.4 million UK homes and offices , or 5 % of properties , remain unable to sign up for broadband speeds over 10 Mbit / s , the speed required to meet a typical household ’ s digital needs . This is down from around 2.4 million , or 8 %, last year .
The findings are part of Ofcom ’ s Connected Nations 2016 report , an in-depth look at the state of the UK ’ s telecoms and wireless networks . This year ’ s report shows good progress on the availability and take-up of communications services , which are crucial to people ’ s personal and working lives .
However , the report finds there is much more to do , particularly in boosting mobile and broadband coverage , and improving the quality of service provided by telecoms companies .
To help close this speed gap , Ofcom has set out its technical advice for the UK Government on implementing its plans for universal broadband .
Steve Unger , Ofcom Group Director , said : “ Mobile and broadband coverage continued to grow this year , but too many people and businesses are still struggling for a good service . We think that is unacceptable .
“ So we ’ re challenging mobile operators to go beyond built-up areas , and provide coverage across the UK ’ s countryside and transport networks . We ’ ve also provided technical advice to support the Government ’ s plans for universal , decent broadband .”
ACHIEVING DECENT , UNIVERSAL BROADBAND
The number of properties lacking access to decent broadband has fallen significantly in recent years , and is likely to fall further , given on-going investments by industry and Government .
But the universal service would ensure every home and small business in the country has the right to a decent , affordable broadband connection of 10 Mbit / s or above by the end of the current parliament .
Government has said its preference is for the universal service to be funded by industry . Under this model , the companies providing the universal service would recover any unfair cost burden from a fund paid into by a range of telecoms companies .
A THIRD OF PROPERTIES ARE NOW ‘ SUPERFAST ’
The coverage and quality of broadband across the UK has increased significantly over the past year , the Connected Nations report finds .
Superfast broadband is now available to nine in ten UK homes small businesses ( 89 %, or 25.5 million ), up from 83 % last year .
Superfast services are now available to 80 % of small and medium sized enterprises or SMEs ( almost 1.9m ) – up from 68 % in 2015 . However , 15 % of the UK ’ s SMEs are in concentrated areas such as business parks , of which 36 % do not have superfast speeds , and 11 % cannot receive 10 Mbit / s .
MOBILE REVEALS A MIXED PICTURE Seven in ten premises ( 72 %) can now receive a 4G mobile signal indoors from all four networks , up from just 28 % last year , as operators continue to roll out faster mobile broadband .
Ofcom rules mean that O2 must deliver a mobile data service to 98 % of UK premises by the end of next year , and other operators are expected to follow in order to remain competitive .
However , availability across the UK ’ s landmass remains low . Many people in rural areas , and those travelling by car and train , suffer from poor mobile signals . ‘ Total ’ geographic 4G coverage , where a signal is available from all four operators , is available in just 40 % of the UK landmass – though this is up from 8 % in 2015 .
INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS
Ofcom has also published its International Communications Market Report 2016 , which compares communications services in up to 19 major countries .
Among these , the UK has the fifth best availability of broadband services offering 10 Mbit / s or above – ahead of almost all European countries , but behind Singapore , Japan , South Korea and the Netherlands .
The UK also performs well on the availability of broadband connections involving fibre optic cables – such as fibre running to the street cabinet – ranking fifth behind the Netherlands , South Korea , Japan and Singapore .
However , Ofcom remains concerned that the UK has very low coverage of ‘ full fibre ’ broadband , where cable and fibre lines connect directly to homes and offices . Here the UK ranks seventeenth out of 19 countries .
The UK performs well on prices , ranking second – out of five major European countries , plus the USA – for the cheapest communication services .
Source : ofcom . org . uk
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