Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kevin Hollinrake and John Whittingdale

Thursday 3rd December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Kelly Tolhurst (Rochester and Strood) (Con)]

4. What plans his Department has to ensure universal provision of fast or superfast broadband.

[The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr John Whittingdale)]

By the end of 2017, 95% of homes and businesses in the United Kingdom will have access to superfast broadband. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced last month, by the end of this Parliament people will have a legal right to request a broadband connection, no matter where they live. We will be consulting on these plans, which will put access to broadband on a similar footing with other basic services early next year.

[Kevin Hollinrake]

I welcome the universal service obligation to provide 10 megabits of coverage to the whole country by 2020. Point-to-point wireless can provide a solution today up to 30 megabits, but the organisations behind those facilities will not invest because state aid will one day bring fibre to those communities and take away their customers. Can Ministers provide a solution to this important conundrum?

[Mr Whittingdale]

I commend my hon. Friend on his advocacy for his constituents on the importance of achieving superfast broadband as quickly as possible. The universal service obligation will provide a safety net, but it will take some time to work out the details. In the meantime, we would welcome all the alternative suppliers putting forward their solution. It may well be that different solutions will be appropriate for different places.