Government dismisses claims of revised 15Mbit/s broadband targets

The government has dismissed claims that it has reduced its definition of superfast broadband to 15Mbit/s after a tender document from Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) seen by V3.co.uk seemed to suggest otherwise.

According to the document, internet service providers are required to deliver speeds of between 15Mbit/s and 50Mbit/s to be eligible for funding.

However, a spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport told V3.co.uk that the figure is a broad guide, andthat  the government still requires any firm applying for funding to meet its original target.

"The government wants 90 per cent of homes and businesses in each local authority area to have access to superfast broadband and for everyone in the UK to have access to at least 2Mbit/s," the spokesperson said.

"Ofcom defines superfast broadband as speeds greater than 24Mbit/s."

The spokesperson stressed that the document is only in a draft format, although it seems likely that the 15Mbit/s figure will remain, especially if it is intended merely as a broad guide rather than a prescriptive figure.

Malcolm Corbett, chief executive of the Independent Networks Co-operative Association, told V3.co.uk that he welcomed the government's confirmation that it remained committed to 25Mbit/s, but questioned why the 15Mbit/s figure is being used.

"The more ambitious the government is, the more likely it is that the UK will have the best broadband network in Europe by 2015," he said.

"It seems odd, though, that it's used a different figure in the document to the 25Mbit/s goal, as companies applying for funding could see that as a target even though it's not."

BDUK announced the first wave of £50m funding for four counties, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire and Norfolk, in May.