New UK PM Liz Truss mentions Broadband twice in her Opening Speech
Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss appoints Michelle Donelan as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Donelan replaced Nadine Dorries and was briefly Education Secretary in former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s last cabinet, following the mass layoffs that ultimately led to his death. Little is known about Donelan’s plans for her new assignment, and whether she will continue her predecessors’ plans for online safety, with bills and government support for the rollout of gigabit broadband.
However, in her first speech as Prime Minister outside of Downing Street, Truss cited broadband upgrades as one of her top priorities. “We will put spades in the ground to make sure people don’t face unaffordable energy bills, and we will also make sure we build hospitals, schools, roads and broadband.”
Liz Truss revealed few things about her plans for broadband despite the previous Conservative manifesto promising nationwide FTTP (fibre to the premise) coverage by 2025. The revised target is now set to 85%, with the government also withdrawing its commitment to use all-fiber. But Nonetheless, the government has sought to promote progress thanks to commercial sector investment.
A well-publicised visit to CityFibre in Leeds, Truss said she wanted to level up infrastructure in places where broadband and mobile coverage is currently poor.
