THE government says it is determined to tackle frustration that rural broadband does not match that of city dwellers.

Many rural communities have expressed frustration that their broadband does not match that of city dwellers. In this article, the government says it is determined to tackle the situation.

Nearly all the government's 44 local Rural Broadband Programme projects have now entered the delivery phase, which will see broadband reaching some of the most rural communities across the country.

A quarter of the local projects are already delivering the benefits of superfast broadband in rural communities such as Sticklepath in Devon, Ridlington in Rutland, giving them access to internet speeds from home or work that many in urban areas take for granted. October will see the start of an accelerating roll out with approximately 10,000 rural premises, such as farms, dairies and remote villages, gaining access to superfast speeds every week. By next Spring it's anticipated this number will rise to around 25,000 per week, increasing to 40,000 per week by summer 2014.

The government's fifth largest infrastructure project remains on track to extend superfast broadband access to 90% of homes and businesses by early 2016.

In the remaining 10% areas, virtually all homes and businesses will have access to standard broadband (2Mbps) by 2016. This is the minimum speed recommended to do things like catch up on TV programmes through BBCiPlayer, speedy web browsing for online supermarket shopping, or paying your car tax or applying for a passport.

The commercial roll out of broadband in the UK has also gathered significant pace. Broadband in the UK is at the top of the international leader board for coverage, speed, choice and price. Recent Ofcom research shows that across the country, average broadband speeds have more than quadrupled since November 2008 and speeds in rural areas are increasing at a proportionally faster rate than in urban areas.

However, the commercial roll out will not reach all parts of the UK. So the government, local authorities, and devolved administrations are investing over £1bn to extend the benefits of broadband to all parts of the country.

By the end of the programme, over 4 million homes and business across the UK will have access to superfast broadband, who would not otherwise have it.

While the current programme will ensure that 90% of the country has access to superfast speeds, the government recently announced an extra £250 million investment to extend superfast coverage to 95% of premises by 2017. And together with the industry, the government is exploring how to expand coverage further, using more innovative fixed, wireless and mobile broadband solutions, to reach at least 99% of premises in the UK by 2018.

As well as extending broadband coverage – the government is also investing £150million in plugging gaps, or not-spots – in the mobile phone network, another essential of modern life. The first site as part of this scheme went live in Weaverthorpe, North Yorkshire at the end of September.

World class national infrastructure is essential for the future prosperity of all parts of the UK. That's why the government has focused capital spending on infrastructure to connect the country and help businesses grow and create jobs.

For more information about the roll out of broadband in your area, please contact your local authority, and for regular news about the government's broadband and mobile programmes, sign up for the SuperFast Britain e-newsletter.

This article was supplied to the Rural Services Network by DEFRA on behalf of Broadband Delivery UK and the Department for Culture Media & Sport.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on the rural broadband programme was published on 26 September. The government says it disagrees with the views expressed by the PAC which, it says, are at odds with the findings of the National Audit Office. The government says the NAO found that the government's approach reduced the cost to the taxpayer and reduced risk. The government says it put in place a fair commercial process and encouraged different suppliers to bid. The government says it is disappointed that the PAC fails to recognise that thousands of rural premises who have never had a decent broadband supply are now getting one - something that is vital for farmers, rural businesses and all those who live outside major cities.