Reviewing the UK’s Right to Internet Access

As digital technologies continue to develop and become more widely used, regulations are necessary to ensure no third parties take advantage of these technologies to harm others. In a previous post, we covered key global trends and developments in AI regulations to help keep track of the rapidly evolving field. This development list includes the G20’s adoption of the OECD AI principles to assist governments and organisations worldwide in approaching AI in more sustainable and human-centric ways.

Similarly, other technological advancements must come with regulations for compliance from users, providers, and other stakeholders. This includes developments in broadband Internet connections. Today, most of our daily activities, whether work, entertainment or even education, occur on the Internet. As such, establishing regulations and rules for compliance is crucial to ensuring safety and access to the Internet for all. In this post, we’ll be reviewing the UK’s right to Internet access:

Development of Internet connection and broadband speeds thus far

Since the dawn of the Internet in the 80s, broadband speeds and connection reliability have improved year after year. The earliest means of Internet access required direct connections to local area networks (LAN) or dial-up connections through modems and phones. These connections typically supply from 56kbps (kilobytes per second) up to 10mbps (megabytes per second).

From there, Internet-related technologies have evolved rapidly. Full fibre broadband connections can provide up to 2gbps (gigabytes per second). Full fibre broadband is the latest in broadband technologies, as it brings a fibre-optic cable that runs from the cabinet in the street to your property for the most reliable connection. With full fibre broadband, you get consistent gigafast, symmetric speeds that allow you to download and upload without buffering.

According to UK fibre broadband statistics, 97% of UK premises currently have a fast fibre broadband connection available to them, providing download speeds of at least 30mbps. However, at least three-quarters of the UK can now access gigabit-capable broadband. Meanwhile, the UK Government’s Project Gigabit aims to bring gigabit-capable coverage to 85% of the UK by 2025.

Gaps in access to the Internet

Despite the Internet being much faster than it used to be, many people worldwide can still not access these speeds. According to a 2023 piece from the BBC, more than half of low-income households in the UK lack awareness about bargain broadband deals, which significantly limits their ability to access decent Internet speeds. At the same time, people are not getting the right advice when it comes to switching to a social tariff. These are low-cost broadband deals offered to customers on benefits and cost between £10 and £20 monthly. Millions of families could save around £200 annually by switching.

Reduced social tariffs allow UK households receiving government benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, and Income Support to pay significantly less for Internet and telecom access. UK providers offering these tariffs include BT, EE, SMART, Community Fibre, NOW, Sky, and Virgin Media.

By working to make the Internet more accessible, governments around the world will not only promote individuals’ right to freedom of opinion and expression but also be able to boost economic, social, and political development. As mentioned above, the Internet is crucial for our work tasks and education, as it can help raise general awareness and information among people.

Progress supporting the UK’s right to Internet access

Fortunately, the UK government has been hard at work ensuring everyone can access the Internet. In 2022, the Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband was established in the UK as a “safety net” to deliver broadband to premises that don’t have access to a decent and affordable connection. The government has defined a “decent” connection as one that can provide 10mbps (megabytes per second) download speed and 1mbps (megabytes per second), along with other defined quality parameters. At the same time, Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has defined an “affordable” connection as one that costs less than £45 monthly.

The revised Building Regulations 2010 also include a law requiring newly constructed homes in England to be built with infrastructure and connections capable of delivering gigabit broadband. This means that people moving into new homes will have a gigabit-capable broadband connection, avoiding the need for expensive and disruptive installation work after the structure is constructed. Connection costs will be capped at £2,000 per home for developers — it is estimated that over 98% of premises fall within this cap, meaning most UK citizens should have the necessary financial protection when getting an internet connection on their respective properties.

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By David Zheng