This week Greg Hands met with BT to see what can be done to speed up the internet provision to Chelsea and Fulham, and improve the roll-out of superfast fibre broadband, internet provision of at least 100 Megabits per second.
On Tuesday (17th March), Greg met with senior managers at BT, to discuss BT’s ongoing rollout of superfast fibre broadband in Chelsea and Fulham.
BT discussed the number of domestic and commercial properties in London which currently have access to superfast broadband from them and their competitors. They explained that more than 90% of households in Hammersmith & Fulham have access to fibre broadband, and more than 80% of Kensington and Chelsea have access.
During the meeting Greg invited his constituents to send their views to him via Twitter, and he raised one constituent’s particular concerns about BT’s coverage in the vicinity of Munster Road.
Later in the week, the Chancellor’s Budget included announcements on the Government’s digital infrastructure strategy. The Budget set out plans to use up to £600 million to clear new spectrum bands for further auction to improve mobile networks, provide funding for free Wi-Fi in our public libraries and the Conservatives are committing to the ambition of bringing ultrafast broadband of at least 100 Megabits per second to nearly all homes in the country.
The Budget also continues to support small businesses with the Broadband Connection Voucher scheme. The scheme is open to all SMEs, charities, social enterprises and sole traders and provides up to £3,000 to support broadband connection. The scheme in London, which has issued 4,769 vouchers, is being extended for 12 months to March 2016.
More widely, under this Government, more than two million premises, including many in rural areas, have gained access to superfast broadband as a result of the £1.7 billion superfast rollout programme. In 2010, superfast broadband was available to 45 per cent of premises in the UK. Today, this figure stands at around 80 per cent. Rollout has now reached more than two million homes and businesses, and 95 per cent of the UK will be connected by 2017.
Following the meeting with BT and the Budget announcement Greg said: “Our investment in science and innovation is ensuring we can become the most prosperous major economy in the coming generation. Fast, reliable broadband is essential for homes to benefit from online services, and for UK businesses to compete globally. I am therefore pleased that the Government is investing £1.7 billion in extending superfast broadband provision.
“The meeting with BT was useful and reassured me that Chelsea and Fulham will not be left out, as we work towards our target of extending superfast broadband to cover 95 per cent of the UK by 2017.
“While remaining hopeful about the provision of fibre broadband, Ms Fyfe admitted that London provides a particular problem in terms of other underground obstructions, narrow pavements, road congestion, and associated costs, and expected that a limited number of consumers would be frustrated by the lack of access to superfast broadband.”
Responding to the announcement in the Budget John Allan, National Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses said “The extension of the superfast connection vouchers will help small businesses in more urban areas”.