§ Mr. Russell BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to extend(a) broadband access to the internet and (b) digital television to all rural areas of the UK. [164221]
§ Mr. TimmsThe DTI is working with the devolved Administrations and regional development agencies to extend the availability of broadband still further with a view to broadband being available in every community by the end of next year. We have given them £30 million for pilot schemes to extend the availability of broadband in areas not currently served by the market. This has helped to stimulate further regional schemes across the UK worth at least £377 million over 2000–06.
In England, the Broadband Aggregation Project will make sure that the £1 billion Government spend on broadband connectivity for the public sector between 2003 and 2006 will offer the best value for money and widen availability to surrounding communities.
A joint DTI/Defra rural broadband team has been set up specifically to address the issue of availability of broadband in rural areas. It aims to support local community action to secure affordable access to broadband, to ensure rural communities derive the maximum benefit from the deployment of broadband and promote rural access and take up of broadband to those in a position to effect positive change.
With regard to digital TV, we said in 1999 that before we switch off analogue transmissions everyone who could receive the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue form must be able to receive them on digital systems, and that switching must be affordable for the vast majority of people. These criteria still hold true. However, the Government consider that the advantages of digital television are such that the question is not whether, but how and when we should switch off analogue transmissions.
One of the main arguments for switching off analogue transmissions is that until we do so around 25 per cent. of households will not be able to receive digital services through an aerial. This is because if the power of digital transmissions were increased to enable more complete coverage this would interfere with analogue transmissions, thereby degrading the quality of analogue television reception. Full digital coverage therefore depends on switching off the analogue signal. We are currently working with broadcasters and other stakeholders (including consumer groups) under the Digital Television Action Plan (available at www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk) on an analogue to digital switchover implementation plan. One of the deliverables under this plan will be a region by region timetable for switchover.
1360WMany rural areas are already able to receive digital television signals. Whether a particular household can receive them depends on whether that household is in the reception area of one of the 80 main transmitters from which digital signals are currently broadcast, not on whether it is in a rural or urban area. Digital terrestrial television reception can be checked by entering the viewer's postcode on either the Freeview or the Digital Television Group (DTG)'s websites www.freeview.co.uk or www.dtg.org.uk. Additionally, retailers are advised to check whether customers can receive digital terrestrial television where they live before buying, and most retailers normally bring this to the customer's attention at the point of sale.
It is already possible to receive digital television services by satellite in the vast majority of rural areas. Satellite broadcasts are available to over 98 per cent. of households in the United Kingdom. Viewers can choose to receive all the BBC services and many others free-to-view by purchasing a satellite dish. Alternatively they can subscribe for packages of services which include all public broadcasting services.
§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets the Government have set for the development of broadband by 2010. [164264]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Government's current broadband target is to have the most competitive and extensive broadband market in the G7 countries by the end of 2005. The Government are in the process of considering with stakeholders (including the Broadband Stakeholder Group), on what targets are necessary to measure the UK's progress in this area after this date. This process will be completed during this year and the Government will make an announcement once the review is complete.
§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Government plans to widen access to broadband over the next 12 months. [164285]
§ Mr. TimmsIn November 2003, the DTI called on the Government, public bodies and broadband providers to bring broadband availability to 100 per cent. of communities across the UK by the end of 2005. BT and other stakeholders in the telecommunications industry came forward to support this target.
The Government expect that considerable progress will be achieved within the next 12 months. According to Ofcom, an estimated 85 per cent. of UK homes and businesses are covered by a mass-market broadband solution and this is almost certain to rise to 90 per cent. this year.
The Government welcome the advice of the Broadband Stakeholder Group in helping to develop a strategy for reaching the last 10 per cent. of communities. This will involve continuing action by the public and private sectors working in partnership to complete the access to an extensive and competitive broadband market throughout, the UK using a variety of technologies.
Decisions on where and when networks will be deployed will be predominantly for the market. However, the Government will continue to play their part, for example, by aggregating the £1 billion demand for public 1361W sector connectivity to 2006 through the Broadband Aggregation Programme, helping to ensure that this investment extends broadband availability to local communities.