UK rollout of superfast broadband ‘among fastest in the world’

UK Culture Secretary, Sajid Javid.

The UK’s rollout of superfast broadband is “among the fastest in the world” and has been “steadily accelerating” since it began in 2012, according to the UK government. 

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport claimed yesterday that 1.5 million premises are now passed and that an additional 40,000 homes and businesses are being added each week, with now marking the fastest stage of deployment.

The UK government claims that the average broadband speed in the UK has almost quadrupled from 5.2Mbps in May 2010 to 18.7Mbps in May 2014.

It also said it is on track to up superfast broadband coverage to 95% of the UK by 2017, with the figure currently standing at some 80% – “ahead of the top five European economies for broadband coverage, speed, choice and price.”

According to the government “26% of all UK connections are now superfast, up from just 6% two years ago. Every day more and more people are opting to make the most of all a superfast connection has to offer.”

Culture secretary Sajid Javid said: “We know how important superfast broadband is to everyone, which is exactly why we are investing £1.7 billion in this remarkable project. Our transformation of the UK’s digital landscape is progressing at an incredible rate and delivering a tremendous boost to the nation’s economy as part of the government’s long-term economic plan.”