Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57480 on Broadband: Newton Abbot, what his planned timetable is for supplying (a) data speeds of over 30Mbps to the remaining 2% of (i) homes and (ii) businesses and (b) gigabit capable broadband to the remaining 17% of (A) homes and (B) businesses.

The rollout of superfast and gigabit-capable broadband is primarily driven by the private sector, with government only intervening where commercial development will not suffice. The government plans for 99% of UK homes and businesses to have access to gigabit-capable broadband by 2032. In Newton Abbot, Openreach is delivering a Project Gigabit contract to premises that are unlikely to be reached by suppliers’ commercial rollout. This contract will disproportionately target premises currently without superfast speeds (>= 30Mbps).

The first connections under this contract are expected to be made early next year, and the contract is currently expected to run until 2030.

In the meantime, we expect superfast and gigabit-capable coverage to continue to steadily increase in Newton Abbot as a result of suppliers’ commercial rollout.