FASTER broadband connections will not be automatically rolled out to isolated rural areas, the government has confirmed.

Instead, rural homes and businesses will have to request connections – a process which could involve a four-year wait.

Confirmation that broadband would be supplied on a request-only basis came as telecoms giant BT said it was investing £6bn on Superfast Broadband Roll-out and 4G.

BT has reported that at least 10m homes and businesses are to get ultrafast broadband through a combination of fibre and copper technology called G.fast.

The company is to invest £6bn in improving its services, including extending superfast broadband and 4G coverage to more than 95% of the UK by 2020.

But the Countryside Alliance warned that more must be done in rural areas to ensure the "final 5%" were not disadvantaged.

Alliance head of policy Sarah Lee said: "We welcome the announcement but must still point out that the improvement figure will only extend to 95% of areas.

"While this is good news, we cannot have a 95% service for 100% need.

"There must also be a clear commitment and delivery of broadband to those households and businesses in rural areas who are in the "final 5%" that won't be covered by this investment.

"If we want the countryside to compete economically and socially then we need assurances and urgent action so that hard working rural businesses and families are not disadvantaged."

The decision not to roll out faster rural broadband automatically was reported in a front-page story in the Daily Telegraph.

In a letter to the newspaper, digital economy minister Ed Vaizey insisted the commitment for everyone in the UK to have access to fast broadband remained firmly in place.

"Nothing has been abandoned," he said.

"We are giving every home and business the legal right to request fast broadband, helping make sure no communities are left behind."

Reaching the least accessible parts of the UK was of course more expensive, said Mr Vaizey.

""It makes sense for broadband to be provided on request to those who want it – in the same way that telephone lines are provided."