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<p>In July 2018, the government published the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review
(FTIR), setting out a commitment to deliver nationwide full fibre coverage by 2033.
This would be achieved through encouraging market competition and commercial investment,
whilst intervening in uncommercial areas through an Outside-In approach.</p><p> </p><p>Over
£1.7bn of public money has been invested in the BDUK superfast programme, which met
our target to extend superfast coverage to 95% of UK premises by December 2017. Further
investment through BDUK to reach 97% superfast coverage will be solely through full
fibre deployment</p><p> </p><p>Starting in April 2019, the £200m Rural Gigabit Connectivity
programme announced in the 2018 budget will also deliver full fibre connections to
local hubs in rural areas, starting with primary schools, alongside vouchers for connectivity
to nearby premises.</p><p> </p><p>Government is also supporting competitive commercial
investment through the £400m Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund, which is expected
to unlock over £1bn investment in full fibre. Since Summer 2017, the £294m Local Full
Fibre Networks programme is also stimulating commercial investment in full fibre networks.
This includes our £67m Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, available to homes and businesses
across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Government is continuing to address
barriers to deployment. We published two consultations on policy options to reform
existing access arrangements to provide a right of entry for communication providers
in cases of absentee landlords, and to ensure full fibre connections to new build
developments. These consultations are now closed and the Government will publish responses
shortly.</p><p> </p><p>Industry have continued to respond with commitments to full
fibre rollout. CityFibre recently announced a £2.5bn investment plan to expand its
full fibre network to 5 million homes in partnership with Vodafone, and Hyperoptic
have secured funding to target up to 5 million homes by 2024, whilst Openreach have
expanded the reach of its Fibre First rollout to 25 towns, cities or boroughs. According
to Ofcom’s Connected Nations report 2018, commercial and public rollout has delivered
upwards of a million full fibre connections over the last 12 months.</p><p><strong>
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