The spread of Covid-19 has shone a bright spotlight on both the vital need for reliable high-speed internet and the inadequacies of the for-profit, corporate model in delivering universal connection.
With the UK’s damaging digital divide starkly exposed during lockdown, and the UK’s current underwhelming approach to delivering a full-fibre future, a similarly bold response is required to build a 21st century digital infrastructure. Connecting the country should be at the centre of a just recovery, based on a new architecture of democratic ownership and governance of the UK’s digital, data and knowledge infrastructures.
Our current approach to building digital infrastructure – market-led competition by default, public subsidy for commercially viable premises where necessary – is failing to deliver. Almost half the country accesses their internet through early 20th century copper wire infrastructures. The UK is ranked 35th out of 37 countries assessed by the OECD for the proportion of fibre connections in its total fixed broadband infrastructure, with only 13% of households having full-fibre connection, and just 47% of those living on a low income use broadband internet at home.
