Over a million homes and offices still cannot get a decent broadband connection according to the latest analysis from industry regulator Ofcom, creating issues for HMRC’s plans for all businesses to move to quarterly online tax updates via its flagship Making Tax Digital initiative
Ofcom says around 1.1m homes and offices, or 4% of properties, still cannot get the broadband speeds needed to meet their typical needs, although this figure is down from 1.6m premises last year.
Broadband speeds and access remain worse in rural areas, where properties are often situated a long way from the telephone exchange or local street cabinet. Around 17% of rural premises are not getting decent broadband services, compared to just 2% in urban areas.
Ofcom is supporting the UK government’s plans for universal broadband, so homes and businesses across the country – including in rural and remote areas – have the right to request a broadband connection with a download speed of at least 10 Mbit/s, and an upload speed of at least 1 Mbit/s.
Steve Unger, chief technology officer at Ofcom, said: ‘Broadband coverage is improving, but our findings show there’s still urgent work required before people and businesses get the services they need.
‘Everyone should have good access to the internet, wherever they live and work. So we are supporting plans for universal broadband, and promoting investment in full-fibre technology that can provide ultrafast, reliable connections.’
Currently access to superfast broadband – defined by Ofcom as a download speed of 30 Mbit/s or more – continues to improve. The option of taking superfast broadband was available to 91% of UK homes and small businesses (27m) by May 2017, up from 89% (25.5m) a year earlier.
However, ‘full fibre’ broadband – where fibre optic cables are used all the way to the property – is only available to 3% of homes and offices, up from 2% a year earlier.
People can check whether their mobile reception and home broadband connections are working as well as they could, using Ofcom’s app for smartphones and tablets.
The Ofcom mobile and broadband checker checks the performance of mobile reception and If the app finds a problem with either, it will explain possible causes and provide practical troubleshooting advice. It also allows people to find out the strength of signal offered by different providers in certain areas – helping them to choose the mobile provider that meets their needs.
Ofcom’s Connected Nations 2017 report is here.
Ofcom broadband and mobile checker app is here.
Report by Pat Sweet
