Government pledges to make fast broadband a legal right

Government pledges to make fast broadband a legal right

 

Fast broadband connectivity is a key service to almost every citizen in the UK, especially to those who will be reading this article. Now the UK government has recognised fast broadband as a key service, essential not only for busy families but also for businesses and entrepreneurs across the UK.

With the latest data from Ofcom saying that 10 Mbps is the speed needed to meet the demands of today’s typical family and many small business, so the government is moving to put access to fast broadband as basic a right as services like water and electricity, a move which is set to strengthen the UK’s digital economy.

The UK Prime Minister, David Cameroon, had this to say;

 

       Access to the Internet shouldn’t be a luxury; it should be a right – absolutely fundamental to life in 21st century Britain. That is why I’m announcing a giant leap in my digital mission for Britain. Just as our forebears effectively brought gas, electricity and water to all, we’re going to bring fast broadband to every home and business that wants it. That’s right: we’re getting Britain – all of Britain – online, and on the way to becoming the most prosperous economy in the whole of Europe.

 

  

 

The government has already made large investments in order to improve the internet infrastructure in the UK, with their direct investment already bringing speed of 24Mbps to over 3 million homes, saying that they are on track to deliver high speed internet coverage to 95% of the UKs population by the end of 2017. 

  

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said:

      The UK’s digital landscape is being transformed – our rollout of superfast broadband is helping millions of people who would otherwise have missed out to get online. Coverage has already reached more than 83 per cent of UK homes and businesses. By next month, 3.5 million more UK homes and businesses will have access to superfast speeds – and the government’s superfast programme is on track to extend that to 95% by the end of 2017.

 

There are also plans in place to deliver more transparency about the internet service that they are getting, with Ofcom later this year releasing a new mobile app so that consumers will be able to check if their home Wi-Fi is working as it should be.

There are also plans to release even more detailed, address-level mobile and broadband speed data next year, which will help people make more informed decisions about things like moving home or starting a business, since to many people fast braodband speed is a priority.

 

You can join the discussion on David Cameroon’s pledge to deliver fast broadband as a basic right on the OC3D Forums.