Britain wants to have ubiquitous Internet access before 2020

With somewhere around 90% of the British population having connected to the Internet sometime in the last year, it’s obvious that the United Kingdom is already an extremely connected country, but Prime Minister David Cameron doesn’t think that’s enough. According to him, Internet access shouldn’t be a luxury, it should be a right that’s guaranteed to British citizens, and he wants to have ubiquitous Internet access in the United Kingdom before 2020.

Plans set out by government will help make sure that every home and business can have access to fast broadband by the end of this Parliament. Speaking on Monday, Prime Minister David Cameron will talk about the government’s intention to put access to broadband on a similar footing as other basic services like water and electricity, helping to cement Britain’s position as the most digitised major economy in Europe. Work is now starting on introducing a broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) with the ambition to give people the legal right to request a connection to broadband with speeds of 10 Mbps, no matter where they live. The Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Access to the Internet shouldn’t be a luxury; it should be a right – absolutely fundamental to life in 21st century Britain. That is why I’m announcing a giant leap in my digital mission for Britain. Just as our forebears effectively brought gas, electricity and water to all, we’re going to bring fast broadband to every home and business that wants it. That’s right: we’re getting Britain – all of Britain – online, and on the way to becoming the most prosperous economy in the whole of Europe.”