Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on rural communities of continued reliance on Fibre to the Cabinet broadband where Fibre to the Premises is neither available nor scheduled for rollout.

We recognise that reliance on older, copper-based networks can affect service reliability for some users. Comparatively, gigabit broadband (primarily delivered via full fibre connections) offers faster speeds, improved reliability and futureproof connectivity. This is why Government is committed to ensuring at least 99% of premises receive gigabit broadband coverage by 2032.

Technologies such as fixed wireless access and satellite broadband are widely available across the UK, including in rural communities, and can provide alternative options for broadband connectivity for those reliant on copper-based connections.