The UK’s Ambitious Broadband Plan Now 2 Years Behind Schedule

An ambitious plan by the UK to lead Europe with its internet provision is already starting to fall apart. After downgrading objectives from providing the fastest speeds in Europe, to providing the best coverage in Europe, the plan is now being labelled unattainable. The UK National Audit Office stated that the plan is already two years behind schedule and is simply too ambitious. Of the 44 rural areas included in the project only 9, that’s 20%, are on target to reach the 2015 deadline. Furthermore, 4 out of the 44, that’s 10%, may not even reach the second 2017 deadline.

The overarching goal of the project was to attain 90% broadband coverage in the UK by 2015 but this now looks unlikely. Additionally, if a stonking big delay wasn’t enough to cheese off UK citizens then the fact BT is the only bidder means they can set their own price without any competition. Naturally BT are pulling a lot of funding to exploit this and the public purse is having to pick up the extra, BT’s contribution has fallen from 36% to 23% in recent times according to the report.

That said rural Brits have got at least another 2-4 years before the majority can see decent broadband speeds.

Image courtesy of kc.co.uk