Fast broadband for all by 2020 pledge

Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alex White has published online national and county maps showing which areas of the country are due to have high-speed broadband available from commercial operators by 2016, and he said remaining areas will be covered by government intervention. 

The map indicates that 600,000 houses and 100,000 businesses will require direct state intervention to provide high-speed broadband access.

The department aims to ensure all citizens get access to high-speed broadband, no matter where they live or work. It predicts progress by 2015 through commercial delivery of broadband speeds of at least 70Mbps to 50% of the population.