Remote areas risk being left behind in rural broadband rollout, warn MPs

Environment Committee concerned that rural areas will not be able to access government digital services due to lack of broadband

Rural areas are being overlooked when it comes to the "vital" deployment of broadband and risk being left behind as the government continues to push ‘digital by default' online services, MPs have warned.

While the government has set a target of 95 per cent of homes, schools and businesses to be equipped with basic to superfast broadband by 2017, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has expressed concern over whether the most remote parts of the country might be missing out.

"People living in the hard-to-reach five per cent of premises need the same access as the rest to online and digital services," said committee chair Anne McIntosh, Conservative MP for Thirsk, Malton and Filey, a constituency in Yorkshire.

"There is a risk in the current approach that improving service for those who already have it will leave even further behind the rural farms, businesses and homes who have little or none," she added. The Rural broadband and digital-only services report also warns that the government could miss its 2017 target for 95 per cent coverage.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee raises concerns that a lack of broadband infrastructure in remote areas of the UK will leave many unable to use key government services, many of which are moving towards becoming online-only services as part of the government's 'digital by default' programme.

As a result, McIntosh warned that the government must ensure that there are no area of the UK left isolated as a result of a lack of broadband infrastructure.

"We are concerned that the current broadband rollout targets are based on inaccurate assumptions that universal basic broadband coverage has largely been achieved when the reality is that many rural communities are still struggling with no access, or slow broadband speeds," she said.

"There is a fear that upgrading the majority who already have access to basic broadband is creating an even bigger gap between those with and those completely without broadband access," McIntosh added.

While the report states that "the UK is a world leader on broadband availability", it also warns that much more needs to be done. "Broadband should not be seen as a luxury. It is now a vital component in education, healthcare and business. Access should be available to all at affordable prices and at adequate speeds," it said.

As a result, the Committee states there are number of issues that need to be addressed in order for the programme to be successful. "Not enough has yet been done to ensure that those who live and work in rural or remote areas are not disadvantaged," the report states.

It continues: "We do not want to hold back areas that are already well connected, but we believe that those in rural areas need broadband just as much as those who live in towns and cities.

"They should not be overlooked simply because they may be harder to connect," the report concludes.