Overview
Access to reliable, high-speed broadband is increasingly recognised as essential infrastructure, comparable to electricity and clean water. Despite significant investment over the past decade, approximately 1.4 million premises across the country — concentrated in rural, coastal, and post-industrial areas — remain without access to broadband speeds meeting the current Universal Service Obligation (USO) threshold of 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload.
The government's Connected Nation Strategy 2025–2035 sets an ambition of gigabit-capable connectivity for 99% of premises by 2035. Achieving this target requires both regulatory reform and new funding mechanisms. This consultation sets out three specific proposals and seeks evidence and views on their likely impacts.
Proposal 1 — Extending Universal Service Obligations
Currently, USO obligations apply only to operators with more than 500,000 subscribers. The government proposes lowering this threshold to 50,000 subscribers. This would bring an additional 14 operators within scope of mandatory rollout requirements.
Proposal 2 — Establishment of a Rural Connectivity Fund
The government proposes establishing a Rural Connectivity Fund (RCF), capitalised through a 0.4% levy on the annual revenues of broadband providers operating predominantly in urban areas (defined as areas with population density exceeding 500 persons per km²). The RCF would be administered by the independent telecoms regulator and used to co-fund infrastructure deployment in areas deemed commercially unviable.
Proposal 3 — Planning Permission Reforms
Delays in obtaining planning permission for mast and duct installation are a frequently cited barrier to deployment, particularly in National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Conservation Areas. The government proposes introducing a deemed consent mechanism for low-impact infrastructure (defined by height, footprint, and visual intrusion criteria) in such areas, subject to a 28-day local authority review window.
Equalities and Impact Assessment
The government has conducted a preliminary Equality Impact Assessment. We welcome evidence on any differential impacts these proposals may have on groups sharing protected characteristics, including older persons, disabled people, and those experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage.
This consultation is now closed.