Countryside Alliance News

The Government's "Better Broadband Scheme"

Written by Countryside Alliance | 3 November 2016

The Better Broadband Scheme has been developed by the UK government to ensure that every household and business in the UK can access an affordable basic broadband service. The scheme enables subsidised connections for people unable to receive at least 2 Mbps services, and who are not in line to benefit from either commercial or BDUK superfast deployment. It now includes technologies other than satellite (fixed wireless, fixed 4G, and fibre to the premise through BT's Community Fibre Partnerships scheme).

The Government define an affordable service as one that costs no more than £400 a year including installation, equipment and monthly fee. Better Broadband is open to any household or business who cannot access an affordable basic broadband service with a download speed of at least 2 Mb per second. To find out more go to http://basicbroadbandchecker.culture.gov.uk/ where information on eligibility and how to apply are available.

It's important to the Government that people in the hardest to reach locations can benefit from an improved broadband connection.