Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that all households have access to efficient digital communication networks and that broadband is available to all households at data transfer rates greater than 2 Mbit/s before the end of 2015.

According to Ofcom only 3% of premises in the UK had access to speeds of less than 2Mbps in June 2014 (down from 11% in 2010). The government estimates that by the end of 2015 this will be around 1% as a result of the BDUK broadband programme.

The government will ensure that the remaining premises have access to speeds of at least 2Mbps by the end of 2015 by making available the option of satellite broadband connections, which will have the capability of delivering superfast speeds for those who want it.