The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DDCMS) consulted on the issue in the summer and the government is now to set out the design for a legal right to high speed broadband in secondary legislation early next year, alongside a detailed response to the consultation.

Ofcom’s implementation is expected to take two years from when the legislation is passed, and is required to meet the government’s commitment of giving everyone access to high speed broadband by 2020.

The decision to mandate universal broadband has been taken despite a proposal from BT to deliver the service through a voluntary agreement, which DDCMS said was ‘not strong enough’.

Culture secretary Karen Bradley said: ‘We know how important broadband is to homes and businesses and we want everyone to benefit from a fast and reliable connection. We are grateful to BT for their proposal but have decided that only a regulatory approach will make high speed broadband a reality for everyone in the UK, regardless of where they live or work.

‘This is all part of our work on ensuring that Britain’s telecoms infrastructure is fit for the future and will continue to deliver the connectivity that consumers need in the digital age.’

Bradley said the regulatory approach would also ensure the minimum speed of connection can be increased over time as consumers’ connectivity requirements evolve.

In addition, the USO provides for greater enforcement, and will maximise the provision of fixed line connections in the hardest to reach areas. It places a legal requirement for high speed broadband to be provided to anyone requesting it, subject to a cost threshold (in the same way the universal service right to a landline telephone works).

Report by Pat Sweet