Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government plans to engage with Altnets as part of its discussions with commercial providers on delivering gigabit-capable broadband to all schools by 2025.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The department will work with commercial providers to accelerate gigabit capable broadband rollout to schools to enable all schools to have access to a high-speed connection by 2025. Commercial providers, including Altnets, will be central to delivering on this important commitment.

Schools who qualify for funding have been identified from national connectivity data as the most difficult to reach schools that would be least likely to be upgraded before 2026 without government action. The department has already started work with the market and will begin contacting qualifying schools in the autumn term.