Everyone in the UK now has access to affordable broadband speeds of at least 2 megabits per second (Mbps) following the successful implementation of a subsidised satellite offer.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport made the announcement yesterday.
The launch of the new scheme means that the government fulfilled its promise to ensure that every home in the UK can access speeds of at least 2 Mbps by the end of 2015.
Up to 300,000 properties across the UK are expected to benefit from the programme.
Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: “Our rollout of superfast broadband has already reached an additional 3.5 million homes and businesses who would otherwise have missed out.
“We are making tremendous progress, but it’s a massive engineering project and won’t happen overnight.
“This scheme offers immediate assistance to those homes and businesses in the most remote areas with the slowest speeds and is all part of our transformation of the UK’s digital landscape.”
The offer will be administered by local authorities who will give codes to eligible homes and businesses upon request.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: “The code does not have a specific fixed value, but when used to obtain a satellite broadband service from one of the selected retail service providers, the use of the code will reduce the total cost (i.e. installation and commissioning costs plus 12 monthly subscriptions) by around £350.”
Ninety percent of UK homes now have access to Internet speeds greater than 24 Mbps
The government also announced that nine out of ten UK homes now have access to superfast speeds – Internet speeds greater than 24 Mbps – up from 0 percent in 2009. The rollout, which is considered to be the fastest one of its kind anywhere in the world, is expected to reach the 4 million mark next Spring.
The UK has also begun work on a broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO), which will give consumers the legal right to request a connection to broadband with speeds of 10 Mbps – regardless of where they live.
Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: “Our rollout of superfast broadband is one of the biggest and most challenging infrastructure projects undertaken by Government in recent times. We need to keep the UK moving with the demands of the digital age, and our tremendous progress throughout 2015 has equipped businesses with the tools they need to grow, and homes with the technology to be part of our online global community.”
