The Ofcom 2013 UK communications market report and infrastructure update report that broadband was available to 100% of UK premises, whilst 8% of connections were operating at less than 2mbps; that was down from 11% of connections in 2009.<\/p>
<\/p>
By the end of summer 2014, 1 million new premises will have superfast broadband available for the first time as a result of our superfast broadband programme and 4 million additional premises will have superfast broadband available to them from the current projects; that will mean 90% of UK premises will be able to access superfast services. The second round of projects will add over 1 million more premises, taking coverage to 95% across the UK.<\/p>
<\/p>
With respect to the impact of the broadband programme, an independent Broadband Impact Study by analysts SQW (with Cambridge Econometrics), revealed the Government's investment in superfast broadband is expected to deliver a major boost to the UK economy; for every £1 the government is investing in broadband, the UK economy could benefit by up to £20 by 2024. It also demonstrated that the benefits will be shared across the UK, helping the rebalancing of our economy; approximately 89 per cent of the benefits will be in areas outside London and the South East of England with rural areas set to benefit most.<\/p>
<\/p>
The report focussed on impacts of mass market broadband services \u2013 i.e. \u2018affordable broadband' for SMEs and households \u2013 and estimated that by 2024, net annual GVA impacts attributable to intervention include:<\/p>
<\/p>
· £0.8 billion from safeguarding local enterprise employment,<\/p>
· £5 billion from productivity growth for broadband-using firms,<\/p>
· £0.3 billion from improved teleworker productivity, and<\/p>
· £0.2 billion from increased labour force participation.<\/p>
<\/p>
The majority of these benefits will be to SMEs, and over half to rural areas.<\/p>
<\/p>
With respect to mobile coverage the 4G rollout will ensure we continue to have some of the best mobile broadband services in Europe. As a result of the 4G auction in 2012, O2 has an obligation to provide indoor 4G coverage to 98% of the UK population and to at least 95% in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland by the end of 2017. The other three UK mobile network operators have publicly committed to match O2's coverage obligation by the end of 2015.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4161", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Gardiner of Kimble"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-16T13:16:56.9650799Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Broadband"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made on the rollout of (1) basic broadband, (2) superfast broadband, and (3) mobile coverage, in rural areas; and what assessment they have made of the impact of those technologies on the rural economy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4284", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Neville-Rolfe"} ], "uin" : "HL966"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65937", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65937/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Ofcom, the independent national regulatory authority for communications has agreed a voluntary industry code of practice on broadband speeds. It was introduced in 2008 and subsequently updated in 2010, and requires internet service providers to provide consumers with information on the maximum speed they can achieve, including an estimated speed range, to help ensure that consumers choose the package that is the most appropriate for them in light of their individual circumstances and needs. All the largest internet service providers representing 98% of the broadband consumer market are signed up to the Code and have agreed to abide by its principles and spirit. Headline broadband speeds advertised are unlikely to be achievable all the time. There are a variety of reasons for broadband speed variations, not all of which are within the broadband service provider�s control. The important thing is that consumers receive accurate information on broadband speeds at the point of sale to allow them to make informed purchasing decisions, and ensure that there is not a mismatch between the speeds they expect to receive and what they actually get.<\/p>
<\/p>
Ofcom has undertaken successive mystery shopping exercises to check compliance with the Code. Results have shown that the level of compliance has continued to improve. The latest results published in May 2013 found that overall 96% of mystery shopping callers were provided with a speed estimate (93% in 2011/12). There was also an improvement overall in the provision of speeds information provided to mystery shoppers via the web. All signatories to the Code, with the exception of two small providers, offered a speed checker which provide estimated access line speeds. The percentage of assessments where any speed estimate was given via the website rose from 87% in 2011/12 to 92% in 2013.<\/p>
<\/p>
Ofcom is currently discussing with industry and consumer groups, its proposals to revise the Code to reflect significant changes in the broadband market since the Code�s introduction, with the increased take up of superfast packages. The proposals include improving the information on speeds for consumers buying superfast packages to equal that received by consumers buying current generation services.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4161", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Gardiner of Kimble"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-14T13:25:11.460909Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Broadband"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that consumers receive the broadband speeds for which they pay.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Birt"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Birt"} ], "uin" : "HL864"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64684", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64684/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Property developers and communications providers recognise the importance of superfast broadband provision in new builds, and that consumers' expectation is that these services will be available on the day they move in. DCMS, with the Department for Communities and Local Government, is working with house builders and communications providers to ensure that newly built residential properties have access to fixed line superfast broadband. For temporary construction sites, where it is not possible to provide fixed line services because of time constraints, wireless and satellite options are available.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1580", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wantage"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Edward Vaizey"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-07T09:56:28.6326304Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Broadband"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to ensure that superfast broadband is available for temporary construction sites as well as completed dwellings.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4113", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stratford-on-Avon"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Nadhim Zahawi"} ], "uin" : "203028"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65118", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/65118/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
90% of the UK, including Central Bedfordshire will be able to receive superfast broadband by early 2016, rising to 95% by 2017.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1580", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wantage"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Edward Vaizey"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-03T12:31:06.0092208Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Broadband"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects superfast broadband to be fully rolled out in (a) England and (b) Central Bedfordshire.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1453", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Selous"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Bedfordshire"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Selous"} ], "uin" : "904622"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63480", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Culture Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63480/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Ofcom's European Broadband Scorecard (http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/other/telecoms-research/bbresearch/scorecard-14<\/a>) stated in figure 8 that the percentages of households in areas served by broadband were:<\/p> <\/p>
<\/p><\/td> | Standard broadband<\/p><\/td> | Mobile broadband<\/p><\/td> | Superfast broadband<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
United Kingdom<\/p><\/td> | 95-100%<\/p><\/td> | 95-100%<\/p><\/td> | 70-75%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
France<\/p><\/td> | 95-100%<\/p><\/td> | 95-100%<\/p><\/td> | 20-25%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Germany<\/p><\/td> | 95-100%<\/p><\/td> | 90-95%<\/p><\/td> | 65-70%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Spain<\/p><\/td> | 95-100%<\/p><\/td> | 95-100%<\/p><\/td> | 60-65%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> |
Italy<\/p><\/td> | 95-100%<\/p><\/td> | 95-100%<\/p><\/td> | 10-15%<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> <\/p> |