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Broadband: Greater London

Answer

We do not hold specific statistics for Central London, but the thinkbroadband website states that in London 97% of both residential and business premises have access to a superfast service.

DCMS has made superfast broadband available to more than 95% of the country through its Superfast programme, and at least a further 2% is likely to be achieved. Of which, 340,000 premises (over 1% of premises) are contracted to be delivered by March 2019.

However where the government can intervene in the marketplace is determined by State Aid rules which are designed to avoid distortions in functioning markets. This means that in the majority of urban areas – including Central London – where there is competition between suppliers, the government is unable to invest in broadband. These commercial areas were identified during the planning phases of superfast broadband projects. The reason for this approach was to avoid investing scarce public funds in an area that were going to get superfast connections through commercial arrangements and/or to avoid public investment distorting the normal functioning of a competitive broadband market.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

HL11337

Session

2017-19

Subjects

Broadband Greater London

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk