Mobile roaming in the EU after Brexit
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This briefing paper provides information on the Government's targets for rolling out gigabit broadband, its policies to support the roll-out by industry, and its public funding programme, Project Gigabit.
Gigabit broadband in the UK: Government targets, policy, and funding (896 KB , PDF)
The Government’s target is for gigabit broadband to be available to 85% of the UK by 2025 and nationwide by 2030. This paper discusses the background to these targets and the Government’s policies on the rollout of gigabit broadband.
The UK Government has primary responsibility for broadband policy and coverage targets because telecommunications is a reserved power. However, the delivery of broadband infrastructure projects often involves local authorities or devolved responsibilities, such as building regulations, planning and business rates.
Gigabit-capable broadband means download speeds of at least 1 gigabit-per-second (1 Gbps or 1,000 megabits per second, Mbps). A 1 Gbps download speed would allow a high-definition film to be downloaded in under 1 minute.
Gigabit-capable broadband can be delivered by a range of technologies, including full fibre, high-speed cable broadband, and potentially wireless technologies.
New gigabit-capable networks are primarily being built using full fibre technology. The cable broadband network is owned by Virgin Media O2, which has finished upgrading its network to gigabit speeds. Wireless networks may be the most economically viable option in very hard to reach areas.
In January 2023, 72% of UK premises had a gigabit-broadband connection available, according to telecoms regulator, Ofcom.
Broadband data website Thinkbroadband reported that 76% of premises had gigabit-broadband available in June 2023. Thinkbroadband uses a different methodology to Ofcom and its data is published weekly. Its coverage figures tend to be a few percentage points higher than Ofcom estimates that follow later. Ofcom’s next release, showing data up to May 2023, is due to be published in September.
The Library’s broadband data dashboard allows users to explore where gigabit-broadband is available by constituency.
The Government’s 2019 manifesto commitment was to deliver nationwide gigabit-broadband by 2025. That target was revised in November 2020 to a minimum of 85% of premises by 2025.
The Levelling Up White Paper published in February 2022 set a new target: for gigabit-broadband to be available nationwide by 2030. Nationwide coverage means “at least 99%” of premises.
The Government says it remains committed to meet 85% of premises by 2025. The ‘nationwide-by-2030’ target therefore puts a timeline for connecting the remaining 15% of premises, most of which will require public funding support.
The 2030 target is considered more realistic by industry stakeholders but the delay from 2025 has been described as a “blow to rural communities”. The Public Accounts Committee argued in January 2022 that the Government’s approach to the gigabit broadband roll-out “risks perpetuating digital inequality across the UK”.
The Government says the revised targets reflect how quickly industry could build in hard to reach areas that need public funding alongside their commercial roll-out.
The Government’s policy is that gigabit-broadband infrastructure will be mostly built using private investment. Private companies decide when and where to build infrastructure based on commercial factors. There are many companies are building new networks including small operators focusing on particular geographical areas.
The Government expects that with the support of targeted policy reforms 80% of UK premises can be reached through commercial investment alone. The remaining 20% will require public subsidies.
Part of the Government’s strategy on gigabit broadband roll-out is to bring policy reforms to make it easier for the telecoms industry to build infrastructure and to promote a competitive market for new networks.
The Government has been working on reforms including to make it easier to access land to install infrastructure and to ensure that new homes are built with gigabit-broadband installed. Industry stakeholders have also been calling for further tax relief on new gigabit investments and for the Government to address skilled labour shortages that could delay roll-out.
The Government has promised £5 billion to subsidise the roll-out of gigabit-broadband to the ‘hardest to reach’ premises in the country that will not be reached by private investment (20% of the UK). This is around 5 million premises, mostly in rural areas.
The funding programme is called ‘Project Gigabit’. It is delivered by Building Digital UK (BDUK), an executive agency within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Project Gigabit has three main parts:
BDUK is planning for Project Gigabit to reach at least 1.56 million premises by 2025. That equates to 5% of UK premises. The agency says that 600,000 have already been reached, primarily by reconfiguring existing contracts awarded during the rollout of superfast broadband. It anticipates transitional years of slower growth as these contracts expire and new ones go out for procurement.
BDUK publishes quarterly progress updates that provide indicative timetables for procurements across the UK.
The devolved administrations also have their own broadband roll-out projects ongoing that are building gigabit-capable connections. These are: the R100 programme in Scotland, Superfast Cymru in Wales and Project Stratum in Northern Ireland.
Gigabit broadband in the UK: Government targets, policy, and funding (896 KB , PDF)
This page provides information about mobile roaming charges for UK customers after the end of the Brexit transition period.
Browse local data to see how broadband connectivity and speeds vary in different parts of the UK
A debate is scheduled to be held on Tuesday 19 September 2023 at 2.30pm in Westminster Hall on the Proposed merger between Three UK and Vodafone. The debate will be opened by Navendu Mishra MP.