Watchdog attacks BT ‘monopoly’ in rural broadband rollout

The £1.2bn state project to provide fast broadband services to rural areas has been attacked for creating a “monopoly” for BT by the government’s spending watchdog. Members of Parliament found that the former national telecoms group had been in a position to win all of the £490m of state subsidies on offer to roll out broadband services to remote areas.

Margaret Hodge, chair of the public accounts committee, said: “The government has failed to deliver meaningful competition in the procurement of its £1.2bn rural broadband program, leaving BT effectively in a monopoly position.” While the government’s Broadband UK (BDUK) program was attacked for creating the conditions, BT was itself criticized Ms Hodge for “exploiting its monopoly position to the detriment of the taxpayer, local authorities and those seeking to access high-speed broadband in rural areas”.