UK - broadband for businesses and new homes

Delivering super-fast broadband to new build homes and businesses Ofcom announces survey to examine future broadband infrastructure

Ofcom today published proposals to promote next generation broadband networks for new housing and office developments. It also announced a survey of UK infrastructure to examine the scope for extending these networks elsewhere.

The proposals seek to encourage investment in super-fast broadband with speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s, while promoting competition in the provision of these services.

The proposed regulations are designed to provide investors with certainty over how these new networks will be regulated. They will ensure that all communications providers interested in delivering high-speed broadband have equal opportunities to invest in telecoms infrastructure for new build properties.

In 2007, the Government announced a target of three million new build homes by 2020; it is estimated that around 246,000 new residential and business premises are being built each year. A number of new build developments are already being fitted with fibre-based networks, including Ebbsfleet in Kent, where the new owners will move in this summer.