Rural communities 'face being broadband black-spots'

Large numbers of rural communities could remain broadband not-spots thanks to Ofcom's lack of ambition in expanding such services to these areas.

That is the conclusion of a new report from the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which suggested that the regulator must demand more from broadband providers when the next generation of mobile licences are auctioned, the Yorkshire Post reports.

Ofcom has called for the next generation of services to reach 95 per cent of the population, however, the committee believes 98 per cent of people should be given access to super-fast broadband.

"The evidence we have received suggests that Ofcom's proposed 95 per cent population coverage obligation on one of the 800MHz spectrum licences being auctioned is readily achievable. In fact, we consider the imposition of a 95 per cent coverage obligation to be unambitious," the report said.

Mike Crockart, Edinburgh West MP for the Liberal Democrats, said recently that Scotland is in desperate need of fast business broadband.