About 1.1 million British properties are unable to access broadband speeds of at least 10Mbps Ben Birchall/PAMore than one million homes and offices in rural areas struggling with poor internet connection will have the right to demand an upgrade to fast broadband. The government said that only a regulatory universal service obligation would offer the certainty and legal enforceability to ensure broadband speeds of at least 10 Mbps to the whole of the UK by 2020. The decision is a rejection of an alternative voluntary agreement proposed by BT to improve broadband speeds for 99 per cent of people in sparsely populated parts. About 4 per cent of UK homes and offices, about 1.1 million properties, are unable to access broadband speeds of at least 10Mbps, according to Ofcom, the communications regulator. Karen Bradley, the culture secretary, said: “We know how…

Source: The Times December 20, 2017 09:00 UTC