Survey Doubts UK’s Ability to Rollout Full Fibre Networks by 2033

The latest ISPreview.co.uk survey of 1,860 online readers has found that the vast majority of respondents (86.8%) support the Government’s aspiration for universal coverage of ultrafast “full fibre” (FTTP) broadband ISP networks by 2033, but only 43.5% believe it’s actually achievable.

Earlier this year the Government made a commitment to deliver ultrafast Gigabit capable “full fibre” (FTTP/H) connections to cover 15 million premises in the United Kingdom by 2025 and after that they’ve also adopted an aspiration for universal coverage by 2033 (here), which is being supported by the changes proposed under their recent Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR).

The proposal anticipates that the private sector will do most of the work, although it suggests that the final 10% (i.e. most rural areas) may need a public investment of between £3bn to £5bn. The good news is that 79.6% of respondents to our survey said they would support such a funding boost, although 76.9% also felt as if the Government could go further by extending the current 5 year business rates (tax) holiday on new fibre.

Do you support the Government’s aspiration to cover 100% of the UK with full fibre (FTTP) broadband by 2033?
Yes – 86.8%
No – 9.9%
Unsure – 3.2%

Do you think 2033 is achievable?
Yes – 43.5%
No – 38.5%
Maybe – 17.9%

Several billion in public money will be needed to deliver for 2033 (mostly in rural areas). Do you support this?
Yes – 79.6%
No – 20.3%

The business rates (tax) holiday on new fibre builds will end in 2022, should this be extended?
Yes – 76.9%
No – 23%

The United Kingdom currently only has “full fibre” coverage of around 5% (1.4 million) premises and this is behind almost every other country in the EU (here). The Government’s proposed plan to correct this is ambitious but it would clearly require a huge ramp-up in civil engineering from the current levels (i.e. adding around 2 million additional FTTP premises to the national coverage every year for the next 10-15 years).

The FTIR proposals provide a good starting point for the aforementioned aspiration, but the Government will eventually have to put a much bigger scoop of public funding on the table in order to stand any chance of delivering on that and until then it may lack some credibility. Equally they’ll have to be very careful about negatively distorting the existing market when they do so.

At least for now most people appear to be very supportive of the proposed aspiration. Meanwhile this month’s new survey asks whether or not you plan to switch ISP in 2019 and which of the biggest broadband providers you felt improved the most during 2018? Vote Here.