To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the increase in online working and education on the quality of broadband experienced by consumers.
Answered on
18 May 2020
The telecoms sector has undertaken a significant amount of work over recent years to prepare for a pandemic. DCMS is working closely with the main broadband providers to ensure the network remains stable and continues to have sufficient capacity for the increases in home-working and remote learning the country has seen as a part of its response to Covid-19.
Additionally, on 19 April the Government announced measures to ensure that vulnerable and disadvantaged children across England can access the internet. We are also working with the country’s major telecommunication providers to make it easier for families, who are relying on mobile data, to access online educational resources.
Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-major-package-to-support-online-learning