In a study published today, it was revealed that the difference between downloads achieved by consumers in urban areas and those in more rural parts of the country stands at 20.6Mbps – up almost a quarter from 16.5Mbps in May 2013.
Ofcom reports that increasing availability and a rise in take-up of fibre broadband in urban areas has led to the gap expanding, but predicts that “speeds will become more evenly matched across the UK as fibre broadband availability increases in rural areas.”
Ofcom’s UK fixed-line broadband performance report described increases in rural broadband speed as “not statistically significant”. However, a spokesperson for BT said: “BT is pleased to see broadband speeds increasing in rural areas, as well as the boost to the average speed throughout the UK, which has now increased by 48 per cent in the past year. Our broadband speeds have increased for all products and Ofcom has recognised that we offer excellent reliability and performance at peak times.
“The increase in average broadband speeds is thanks in no small part to BT’s huge investment in fibre broadband across the UK, such as in Cornwall, where the network is in place to serve 90 per cent of homes and businesses with speeds ranging between up to 40 and up to 300Mbps. We expect speeds to continue to improve in rural areas as BT’s fibre broadband coverage continues to expand. No one is investing in rural broadband on the same scale as BT. We are passing tens of thousands of homes and businesses per week via the BDUK process and thousands of rural communities are starting to enjoy the benefits of the technology.”
The report added average UK broadband speeds increased by 3.1Mbps in the six months to November 2013.
Source: http://www.cable.co.uk/news/rural-broadband-divide-getting-wider-ofcom-finds-700000021/
