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27 May 2009

3m UK homes can’t get fast broadband

Around 15% of UK homes - three million households - have internet broadband access with speeds of less than 2 Megabits per second, the minimum speed the government envisaged for the whole country, according to new research by the BBC. The research also revealed that many of these households are not located in rural areas, but in commuter belts.

In January, the government revealed it plans to ensure every UK household has access to 2Mbps broadband by 2012, in the initial findings of its Digital Britain report. Communications minister Lord Carter said the government would ensure speedy universal broadband access in order to help bring Britain out of recession. However, the government has a huge task ahead to ensure fast broadband coverage in a number of ‘notspots’.

"We had assumed that these ‘notspots’ were in remote parts of the countryside. That may be where the most vocal campaigners are but there is a high incidence of them in commuter belts," said Alex Salter from SamKnows, who undertook the research on behalf of the BBC. "It prevents flexible working. If the problem is fixed it means a lot more people could work from home which offers a very real way to improve society," added Salter.

Around 60% of UK homes have a broadband connection, while 99% have access to it.