Arqiva says govt funding insufficient for universal fibre broadband

The government has allocated insufficient funding to subsidise the rollout of fibre optic broadband to every home and business in the UK, according to Arqiva.

Writing to a parliamentary inquiry on super-fast broadband, the communications infrastructure and media services company said the aim to deploy universal fibre broadband is "laudable" but unachievable.

"There are insufficient funds to offer super-fast to all," Arqiva argued. "Some funding must be targeted at other solutions for those who will not be offered fibre."

It will be necessary to invest in alternative solutions - such as mobile and wireless broadband - to ensure the final six to eight per cent of properties are able to access speeds of at least 2Mbps, the company insisted.

A House of Lords select committee launched the inquiry into super-fast broadband in February to find out more about the progress toward and thinking behind the government's strategy.

Among the issues considered by the committee is the role that different delivery methods should play in ensuring the next-generation broadband network is fit for purpose.