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1486683

registered interest
date	05/07/2022
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to deliver full-fibre and gigabit-capable broadband by 2025.
tabling member constituency	Woking
tabling member printed	Mr Jonathan Lord
uin	31105
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2022 answer text <p>The Government is delivering the biggest broadband upgrade in UK history. Currently, 69% of UK premises can access gigabit-capable broadband, continuing a rate of incremental growth in line with meeting the target of at least 85% gigabit-capable coverage across the country by 2025. This is not the limit of our ambitions and we will continue to work closely with the industry to get close to complete gigabit coverage as quickly as we can thereafter.</p><p>To support this, we are investing £5 billion through Project Gigabit so hard-to-reach areas can get ultra-reliable gigabit speeds. We have already upgraded coverage to over 600,000 premises, and we have over half a billion of pounds of contracts out for tender right now.</p><p>In addition to our Project Gigabit contracts, we are investing up to £210 million in the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme to support rural communities with the cost of installing new gigabit-capable connections.</p><p>We are also providing funding to connect rural public buildings like schools, GP surgeries and libraries. We recently announced a joint £82 million investment with the Department for Education (DfE) to connect up to 3,000 eligible schools to lightning-fast gigabit broadband.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 11/07/2022 14:47:38 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4090 label Biography information for Mr Jonathan Lord

1351356

registered interest
date	18/08/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to increase public awareness of the copper broadband switch off and the potential effect of that switch off on internet access.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	40852
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2021 answer text <p>There is currently no set date for the withdrawal of the copper broadband network. Ofcom, the independent telecoms regulator, set out clear criteria in their April 2021 wholesale fixed telecoms market review for the withdrawal of copper services, which includes 100% ultrafast broadband coverage in the exchange area.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 10/09/2021 10:10:05 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1347794

registered interest
date	16/07/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of CircleLoop which placed the UK 28th in the world for broadband speeds; and what steps he is taking to accelerate full-fibre and 5G rollout.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	34500
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2021 answer text <p>CircleLoop’s 'Connected Countries’ report ranks countries using average download speed data, rather than the maximum speed available. Given the pace of the gigabit rollout in the UK, it is understandable that in some cases consumers may wish to wait until their current contract ends before seeking higher speeds.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The government remains committed to delivering nationwide gigabit connectivity as soon as possible. Today, over two in five premises can access gigabit-capable networks, up from just one in ten in November 2019. By the end of the year, 60% will have access to a gigabit network, and we are on track to achieving a minimum of 85% gigabit-capable coverage by 2025.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>It is the government's view that the best way to achieve nationwide gigabit coverage is to remove barriers to deployment and create a competition-friendly environment in areas where deployment is commercially viable, while focussing government funds on the 20% of the country where commercial deployment is unlikely. To support the hardest-to-reach areas, we have launched Project Gigabit, our £5bn programme to ensure these areas receive gigabit coverage within the same timescales as the rest of the country.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>5G Network deployment plans are a matter for the mobile network operators, but the government is undertaking a number of actions to support this. We will shortly publish our response to the consultation on potential reforms to the Electronic Communications Code, which sought views on how we can better facilitate the deployment of new networks, including 5G. Alongside this, we have also consulted on reforms to the planning system to support 5G deployment and extend mobile coverage, and we intend to publish our response to the consultation and bring forward legislation in the Autumn.</p><p>We are confident that through these actions we will achieve our 5G rollout ambitions for the majority of the population to have access to a 5G signal by 2027.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 26/07/2021 15:45:45 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1339445

registered interest
date	23/06/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what progress his Department has made on the rollout of gigabit broadband.
tabling member constituency	Crewe and Nantwich
tabling member printed	Dr Kieran Mullan
uin	21369
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to delivering nationwide gigabit connectivity as soon as possible. Today, over two in five premises can access gigabit-capable networks, up from just one in ten in November 2019. By the end of the year, 60% will have access, and by 2025 the Government is targeting a minimum of 85% gigabit-capable coverage, working with industry to reach as close to 100% as possible.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>To achieve this, the Government has enacted a number of policies to make it easier to deploy broadband networks in the UK. These include addressing the issue of unresponsive landlords holding up deployment through the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act and launching the Street Manager service with the Department for Transport to make it easier for operators to access roads for digital infrastructure deployment.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is also investing £5bn as part of Project Gigabit to ensure the hardest-to-reach areas in the UK receive coverage.The first Project Gigabit areas are set to reach some one million hard to reach homes and businesses, with Phase 1a covering up to 510,000 premises, announced in March 2021. Phase 1b is expected to be confirmed in the summer and reach up to 640,000 more hard to reach homes and businesses. These are areas with a high percentage of hard to reach premises and a relatively high proportion of premises without access to superfast speeds.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Project Gigabit was designed to be flexible as it runs alongside commercial rollout. As with other market data, we will review intervention areas to ensure we target truly left-behind places. The next Project Gigabit Delivery Plan update is expected shortly.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Concurrently, premises in rural areas may also be in line for funding through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, with up to £210m allocated to the scheme over the next four years to support hard to reach communities. Cheshire East has made good use of the scheme, seeing 338 voucher connections worth £772,487, with a further 308 vouchers to be connected, totalling £1.4 million.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Home and business owners can check the eligibility of their address and then look up suppliers in their area by going to <a href="https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/</a>. The voucher scheme offers up to £1,500 for homes and £3,500 for businesses to help to cover the costs of installing gigabit broadband to people’s doorsteps when used as part of a group scheme.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Additionally, 4,000 premises in Cheshire will also benefit from access to gigabit capable broadband as a result of a £4.5million investment under the Superfast Broadband programme that was agreed in December 2020.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 02/07/2021 10:48:49 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4860 label Biography information for Dr Kieran Mullan

1338831

registered interest
date	22/06/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to maximise the uptake of next-generation gigabit broadband by consumers and businesses, to achieve the target of 85 per cent of the UK’s population having access to it by 2025.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	20402
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2021 answer text <p>On 8 August 2020, the Government asked Which?, CBI and the Federation of Small Businesses to convene the Gigabit Take-up Advisory Group (GigaTAG) to undertake an evidence-based analysis of the barriers to take-up. The Advisory Group, which also included representatives from other organisations including Ofcom, the Broadband Stakeholder Group and the Internet Service Providers’ Association, published its final report on 16 June 2021 which set out a number of recommendations to Government, Ofcom, industry and trade bodies.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Action is already planned by the respective bodies to whom some of the recommendations were directed at. Ofcom plans to work with industry to improve the consistency of broadband terminology and information in the market. BDUK plans to develop a 'Gigabit toolkit' to support local bodies in raising awareness and understanding of the benefits of gigabit connectivity among local residents and businesses.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is now considering the Advisory Group’s wider recommendations.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 29/06/2021 15:43:52 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1338858

registered interest
date	22/06/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to include provisions in the proposed product security and telecommunications infrastructure Bill to speed up the process for agreeing wayleaves for gigabit-capable broadband rollout.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	20407
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2021 answer text <p>We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation on potential reforms to the Electronic Communications Code and will publish the Government response in due course. This will include proposals for measures to ensure that the Code continues to support the faster deployment of digital infrastructure. Any legislative measures will be taken forward in the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 29/06/2021 15:45:37 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1337396

registered interest
date	16/06/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with local authorities to raise awareness of the benefits of gigabit broadband.
tabling member constituency	Ochil and South Perthshire
tabling member printed	John Nicolson
uin	16874
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2021 answer text <p>Local authorities play a critical role in the deployment of gigabit broadband and my Department regularly engages with local stakeholders on the benefits that this infrastructure brings.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In addition to an online portal that we have already created to assist local authorities in rolling out gigabit broadband, DCMS is developing a 'Gigabit toolkit' to support local bodies in raising awareness and understanding of the benefits of gigabit connectivity among local residents and businesses. We will work closely with local bodies and other key sector stakeholders to help inform and shape the content.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>My Department is also running several specialist programmes with local authorities on key issues, such as land access, planning and the Electronic Communications Code, and we continue to work closely with councils on issues relating to street works, 5G roll out and consumer take-up.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>This engagement includes not only individual and combined authorities themselves, but also wider bodies such as the Local Government Association, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Joint Authorities Group.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 25/06/2021 13:32:53 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4415 label Biography information for John Nicolson

1316344

registered interest
date	19/05/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the economic merits of full-fibre broadband roll out in the context of the findings of the CEBR report, Ultra Fast Full Fibre Broadband: A Platform for Growth, published April 2021.
tabling member constituency	Tatton
tabling member printed	Esther McVey
uin	3854
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>The Government notes the CEBR report, commissioned by Openreach, which predicts a huge productivity boost from nationwide gigabit connectivity, suggesting a £59 billion boost to the UK’s Gross Value Added (GVA) by 2025.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Increased productivity is one of reasons why the Government remains committed to delivering national gigabit connectivity as soon as possible. Today, over two in five premises can access gigabit-capable networks, up from just one in ten in November 2019. By the end of the year, 60% will have access, and by 2025 the Government is targeting a minimum of 85% gigabit-capable coverage, working with industry to reach as close to 100% as possible.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>On the report’s suggestion that 270,000 people could move from urban to more rural areas as a result of changing attitudes towards home working, the Government recognises the importance of strong digital connectivity in rural areas. That is why we are investing £5bn to ensure those living in hard-to-reach areas get the gigabit connectivity they deserve. This is consistent with the Government's wider ambition to level-up the UK.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 24/05/2021 14:52:56 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey

1308697

registered interest
date	13/04/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department plans to use satellite technology to complete the UK high capacity broadband network.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	180575
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2021 answer text <p>The government is investing £5 billion to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to the hardest to reach 20% of premises in the UK. Our approach is technologically neutral but, at present, satellite broadband does not meet the technical specification for funding under the £5 billion programme.</p><p>Satellites are already providing commercial broadband services in the UK, and these services include the provision of backhaul.</p><p> </p><p>The government recognises that the UK has some very remote places that may be too expensive to build a gigabit-capable broadband networks to, even with substantial public subsidy. Less than 0.3% of the country or less than 100,000 premises are likely to fall into this category. On 19 March, the government launched a call for evidence to explore the barriers to improving the broadband of these premises and how innovative new technologies (such as Low Earth Orbit satellites, high altitude platforms and new terrestrial wireless solutions) could help.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 19/04/2021 10:46:42 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1308698

registered interest
date	13/04/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential upload speeds to be attained using satellite enabled broadband in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	180576
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2021 answer text <p>The government is exploring new technologies that can provide improved broadband services in the UK. This includes the use of satellites, as well as innovative terrestrial wireless technologies. On 19 March, the government launched a call for evidence to explore the barriers to improving the broadband of very hard to reach premises and how innovative new technologies (including Low Earth Orbit satellites) could help.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 19/04/2021 10:53:11 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney