[Ian]

The BBC reports that the UK government has signalled its commitment to ensure that every household in the UK has access to 2Mbps broadband minimum. A handful of areas around the country are still without broadband at all, and some users are only able to get minimum speeds of around 512Kbps.

Earlier this year Lord Carter set out his interim recommendations for Digital Britain, in which he proposed a Universal Service for broadband. He recommended a minimum of 2Mbps, which the government has now backed.

The Treasury said the cost would be met in part by underspend from the BBC's promotion of Digital TV switchover. The government's backing of 2Mbps was contained in the Budget Report. Speaking to MPs at the House of Commons, the chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling said: "It is vital to ensure the entire country and economy benefits from the digital age.

"So I am allocating extra funding for digital investment, to help to extend the broadband network to almost every community." That speed would "allow virtually everyone to experience the benefits of broadband, including the increasing delivery of public services online".

Read more at the BBC here.

[feckit]

Hope the government tell BT this!
As only after changing from BT to Sky did we get over 2MB speed.

[crazylegs]

Yeah the BT lines are crap, a mate of mine pays for 8mb and he actually only gets dial up speeds around 50 to 60kbps..Its so slow its a joke, BT say he's right at the end of the line from the exchange..

[Madxgraphics]

Originally Posted by crazylegs

Yeah the BT lines are crap

I use BT and pay for 8mb and get 6mb...I am about 2.5 miles away from the exchange

[Abarbarian]

"some users are only able to get minimum speeds of around 512Kbps."

Yeah like 99 % of folks who live in rural areas. Heck who cares about them anyway, bunch of inbred retards not like townies.

We still can't get Channel 5 either.

Pah and humbug. Rant rant.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Abarbarian

"some users are only able to get minimum speeds of around 512Kbps."

Yeah like 99 % of folks who live in rural areas. Heck who cares about them anyway, bunch of inbred retards not like townies.

We still can't get Channel 5 either.

Pah and humbug. Rant rant.

My parents have the same problem, and they live right next to a small town - than again it is in Northumberland.

It's more of a technical limitation rather than not wanting to extent broadband to rural areas, as it would cost so much. Beckys village in Dorset had about 400 people in it and they had to get a certain number of signups before they'd even install basic broadband capavility there (in about 2005 I think).

FWIW, I can't get channel 5 in Manchester either - unless I use digital.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Madxgraphics

I use BT and pay for 8mb and get 6mb...I am about 2.5 miles away from the exchange

That's not too bad for the distance actually I seem to be getting about 6MB now, which I'm quite happy with For some reason my speeds have increased in the last month

[feckit]

Originally Posted by Ian Cunningham

FWIW, I can't get channel 5 in Manchester either - unless I use digital.

You not missing much, Ian!

[Madxgraphics]

Originally Posted by feckit

You not missing much, Ian!

Just Neighbours and Home and Away......

[JaLing]

I was getting 6Mb with BT on good days.... strange thing is that when I swapped over to Sky it now reports at 12Mb (just over)