Member Article

Rural broadband scheme delays could have been avoided

Missed broadband connection targets could have been met through effective use of satellite connection, according to a report published on Friday by the National Audit Office (NAO).

The report, which looked into the Department for culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) rural broadband programme, highlighted a two-year delay that could have been avoided if satellite connections had been used more appropriately.

DCMS’ original proposals were to deliver a minimum of 2 megabits per second to every part of the UK, and reach a superfast target of 90% coverage.

NAO said they expect original targets to be met 22 months after the initial deadlines, with only nine out of 44 local projects expected to reach their original target of providing 90% superfast coverage by May 2015.

Amyas Morse, head of NAO, said: “The rural broadband project is moving forward late and without the benefit of strong competition to protect public value.

“For this we will have to rely on the Department’s active use of the controls it has negotiated and strong supervision by Ofcom.”

According to SES Broadband Services (SBBS), who are part of a consortium that submitted the third tender for the scheme, effective use of satellite technology would have avoided such a delay.

Managing director of Satellite Internet, Mike Locke, highlighted that Scotland, Wales and areas of the continent have had satellite schemes for rural areas in place since 2008/9, while the original £530m budget for England’s rural programme could have provided 1.7m satellite installations to receive 20 Mbps before the 2015 deadline.

He said: “It’s true that satellite is a high latency solution and does not (yet) give true superfast speeds but in view of the report’s conclusion that only 9 out of the 44 projects will hit 90% coverage by May 2015, would the UK’s rural users prefer to have a solution today which while not perfect, works, or carry on waiting for the promised land? And if they’re not in the favoured 90%, they’re not even on that list.”

Managing director of SES Broadband Service, Patrick Biewer, also commented: “One challenge that satellite broadband has never faced is geographic reach and now speeds and cost are not an issue either.

Mr Locke concluded: “The de-emphasis of the 2Mbps everywhere Universal Service Commitment means even after the delivery of the late superfast terrestrial network is complete, there will still be people disadvantaged.

“This is where satellite is perfect. Satellite can do 20Mbps everywhere right now, so if the government had adopted our satellite plan, this would already have been achieved.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .