The Broadband Universal Service Obligation was launched by Ofcom in March 2020.

What is the Broadband USO?

From March 2020, residents and businesses in the UK will have the legal right to request a decent and affordable broadband connection. A decent connection has been defined by the Government as receiving download speeds of at least 10 Mbps and upload speed of 1 Mbps.

Eligibility

Residents and businesses can access up to £3,400 to help cover the connection costs of getting a faster broadband service subject to meeting the following eligibility requirements:

• Has no access to existing decent broadband; and
• Will not be covered by a public broadband scheme offered by the UK and devolved governments in the next 12 months.

If you can only access a decent service but is priced over £46.10 per month, you’ll also have the right to request a universal service connection.

Customers will be able to request a Broadband USO connection directly from one of the designated universal service providers – BT and KCOM.

How long does it take to set up?

Connection time scales can vary due to several reasons however, most people will get connected within 12 months, but in some cases, it could take up to 24 months.

More information is available on the Ofcom website.

Alternative solutions

If you don’t meet the eligibility requirements for the Broadband USO, you may find you can already upgrade to a faster connection through an existing wireless or 4G service. More information on how these different broadband technology options can benefit you can be found here.