Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with broadband providers on how they can improve broadband speed in the parliamentary constituencies with the slowest service.
Answered by Matt Hancock
We hold regular discussions with broadband providers about improving broadband speeds and coverage to all parts of the UK. Considerable progress has been made with only 1 per cent of all UK premises unable to access speeds of 2 Megabits per second or better in December 2016 compared to 11 per cent in 2010.
Through the Government’s Better Broadband Scheme, all homes and businesses can now access broadband speeds of at least 2 Megabits per second which is fast enough for everyone to be able to use government services online. These scheme vouchers can be aggregated amongst the community and used collectively as part of a community solution. Further information can be found at: https://basicbroadbandchecker.culture.gov.uk/,
Broadband providers are increasing their commercial investment guaranteeing higher speeds and extended coverage. They are also responding positively to community-led schemes designed to improve broadband speeds and coverage. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-led-broadband-schemes
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much of the £2.5 billion commercial investment in broadband planned by BT has been delivered to date.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Department does not hold information on the funding invested by BT in its commercial activities.
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2016 to Question 47357, what proportion of households in Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency have access to superfast broadband.
Answered by Matt Hancock
BDUK estimate that currently just over 63% of premises have access to superfast broadband in the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency and that by the end of 2017 this is expected to rise to 65%. The Northern Ireland broadband project has further funding of over £3m to invest to support additional coverage. All premises with a broadband speed of less than 2Mbps can apply to the Better Broadband Scheme to gain an improved broadband service.
In addition, we are committed to introducing a new broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) within this Parliament. The USO will give households and businesses the legal right to request a broadband connection with speeds of at least 10 Megabits, no matter where they live or work. Ofcom’s view is that 10Mbps is an appropriate minimum speed for a USO for now, given typical household use of digital services
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether BT contributed funding to the phase 1 roll-out of superfast broadband.
Answered by Matt Hancock
BT made a total capital commitment for Phase 1 of the programme of £348 million.
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what BT's commercial investment was in broadband roll-out in Northern Ireland; and how that money was invested.
Answered by Matt Hancock
BDUK do not hold information on BT's commercial investment in broadband roll-out in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Tom Elliott (Ulster Unionist Party - Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the proportion of households in Northern Ireland with access to superfast broadband.
Answered by Matt Hancock
At the end of Phase 1 (March 2016) 82% of premises in Northern Ireland had access to superfast broadband. This will increase to just under 87% following Phase 2 (December 2017). The Northern Ireland Broadband Improvement Project team is taking forward a contract change request to extend coverage further with £1.7 million of gainshare funding that has been returned by the supplier as a result of higher than expected take-up. There will be further gainshare funding over the seven year term of the contract which will become available to support further additional coverage. Furthermore, the UK Government is committed to a new broadband Universal Service Obligation, so every premise in the country will have access to broadband at a minimum speed, and our ambition is that this is 10Mbps.