I welcome the Government’s drive to ensure that all newly built homes are fitted with full fibre broadband as standard. This comes as part of a new national telecoms strategy that looks to create a world-leading digital infrastructure across the UK and will entail work between Government and industry to encourage private infrastructure investment.
The Government has acknowledged that in some areas the market alone cannot guarantee cutting edge infrastructure in all new premises and has indicated that it would add to its existing £200 million Superfast Broadband programme to ensure that all new homeowners had access to fast internet speeds.
This is an important indication of intent as the Government looks to fulfil the Universal Service Obligation and provide every premises with superfast broadband. A vital element of this drive as the housing market is expanded is to ensure that the many new homes that are planned and under construction have infrastructure befitting of the digital age.
It would be self-defeating to not support private investors in providing the best infrastructure for new homes. Our wider economy and quality of life increasingly depend on access to digital technologies and I will continue to support the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in their efforts to make sure that these technologies are universally available to people in the UK.
Digital Secretary Jeremy Wright said, "We want everyone in the UK to benefit from world-class connectivity, no matter where they live, work or travel,"
"This radical new blueprint for the future of telecommunications in this country will increase competition and investment in full-fibre broadband, create more commercial opportunities and make it easier and cheaper to roll out infrastructure for 5G."