IN a move which will affect many in Argyll and Bute, the UK coalition government has this week postponed plans for  universal super-fast broadband by three years.

The previous Labour government had plans to provide every household in the UK with access to 2Mbps broadband by the end of 2012, but the date for universal broadband has now been postponed until 2015.
The UK Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said that lack of funding made it impracticable to bring broadband speed of 2Mbps by 2012.

Broadband expert Sebastien Lahtinen of Thinkbroadband.com said: “This will come as a shock to those living in broadband notspots who at the moment can't receive even a basic broadband service, let alone super-fast broadband. Whilst the government has re-iterated its commitment to have the 'best broadband network in Europe' by 2015, this will be a significant setback for rural broadband users.”

Argyll and Bute MP Alan Reid told the Standard: “Mr Lahtinen is incorrect to say that there was ever a plan to deliver universal broadband by 2012. There was a Labour election promise to do so, but they had made no plans to achieve this when they were in government. BT estimated this would cost £2 billion, but Labour had only set aside £350 million from their proposed telephone tax to pay for this.
“The new government has undertaken to provide super-fast broadband in remote areas at the same time as in more populated areas. The previous government had only planned to deliver super=fast broadband to 90 per cent of the country. The 10 per cent missed out would almost certainly have included Argyll and Bute.”

Jim Mather. Argyll and Bute MSP and minister responsible for broadband in Scotland said: “Like everyone in Argyll and Bute and everyone in Scotland, I am disappointed to learn of the postponement of the universal service commitment target.
“And while I am happy to hear of the coalition government’s commitment to deliver universal broadband coverage at a speed of 2 Mbps, and longer term ambition of ensuring that the UK has the best super-fast broadband network in Europe, it is important that we see some tangible progress.
“However, as with any policy area that is the reserved responsibility of the UK, the Scottish government is clear that it falls on the UK government to deliver its broadband commitments to the whole of the UK, including Scotland.
“In my ministerial role, I have written to Jeremy Hunt MP, the UK Minister with responsibility for broadband, clearly setting out the Scottish government’s expectations on the UK government – which includes the Scottish government’s wish to see at least one of the UK government’s super-fast broadband market testing projects located in Scotland.
The Scottish government views its role as one of influencing the UK government to secure the best possible results for Scotland. Productive engagement with the UK government is already taking place.”

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