Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate her Department has 0made of the number of households without fibre-optic broadband in (a) Camberwell and Peckham and (b) Southwark as of 17 April 2023.

The Government is committed to delivering nationwide gigabit connectivity as soon as possible. By 2025 the government is targeting a minimum of 85% gigabit-capable coverage.

Today, less than 9.6% of premises in Camberwell and Peckham and 10.8% of premises in Southwark specifically do not have access to a gigabit-capable network; meaning the overwhelming majority - 90.4% of premises in Camberwell and Peckham and 89.2% of premises in Southwark - already have gigabit coverage.

In order to further improve connectivity in Camberwell, Peckham and Southwark, we have published the Digital Connectivity Portal, which offers extensive guidance to help local authorities facilitate broadband deployment. This includes technical information on the application of telecoms legislation; practical examples of best practice such as the Street Works Toolkit for working in the country’s highways; and wayleave templates for telecoms operators to gain access to public sector land.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology officials regularly facilitate meetings and workshops between local government and the broadband industry, to build relationships that foster more frictionless deployment. The four sub-regional partnerships across London have been vital in coordinating this work. For example, Central London Forward, which represents Southwark, has actively worked with the Government on a number of initiatives.

More generally, we have made it as attractive as possible for firms to build their networks in the UK by removing barriers to rollout and working with Ofcom to promote competition and investment. As a result, there is now a thriving market of over 80 providers investing nearly £35bn rolling out gigabit broadband all over the UK.