Cameron to announce USO for faster broadband
David Cameron is due to announce plans for every home and business in the UK to have access to faster broadband by the end of the current parliament in 2020.
In a speech later today (9 November), the Prime Minister will outline the Government's plans for completing the rollout of faster broadband services to the entire country.
Although he will not guarantee the delivery of superfast broadband to premises - speeds of 24 Mbps and upwards - plans are in place for the creation of a Universal Service Obligation (USO) with the ambition to give people the legal right to request a connection to broadband with speeds of 10 Mbps. Anyone who cannot access broadband of at least this speed can hold the providers to account.
It signals an intent from the Government to make fast internet a right within modern Britain, rather than a luxury.
The PM will say: "Access to the Internet shouldn’t be a luxury; it should be a right – absolutely fundamental to life in 21st century Britain. That is why I’m announcing a giant leap in my digital mission for Britain.
"Just as our forebears effectively brought gas, electricity and water to all, we’re going to bring fast broadband to every home and business that wants it. That’s right: we’re getting Britain – all of Britain – online, and on the way to becoming the most prosperous economy in the whole of Europe."
Ofcom has confirmed that 10 Mbps, although not even half what is considered superfast, is the broadband requirement of most families and small businesses.
The UK Government is already on target to get superfast broadband to 95 per cent of the UK by the end of 2017. The USO is aimed at extending broadband rollouts to the final five per cent.
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