The United Kingdom government, under the leadership of David Cameron, is planning to introduce a "universal service obligation" (USO) to ensure that every resident and business establishment in the U.K. will have the legal right to request 'affordable' broadband connection.
"Access to the internet shouldn't be a luxury; it should be a right - absolutely fundamental to life in 21st-century Britain," said Cameron. "That is why I'm announcing a giant leap in my digital mission for Britain."
With the introduction of the USO, broadband connection will be categorized as an essential service, just like post (snail mail), telephone, water and electricity. Broadband providers are under legal duty to provide all households that is in need of an internet connection.
"Just as our forebears effectively brought gas, electricity and water to all, we're going to bring fast broadband to every home and business that wants it," said Cameron. "We're getting Britain - all of Britain - online, and on the way to becoming the most prosperous economy in the whole of Europe."
According to the Huffington Post, officials said that there are more than 83 percent of homes and businesses that currently have access to superfast internet connection, and by 2017, the numbers are expected to rise to 95 percent.
The Guardian reported that under the USO plan, residents and business operators are guaranteed to have a fast broadband connection of at least 10 Mbps, no matter where they live, but are not entitled to a superfast connection speed of 24 Mbps or higher.
The government is now planning to launch a consultation in 2016 to discuss how to actualize the project goals. They are considering how to share the burden of meeting the cost across internet providers to ensure that even the most remote and hard to reach area in the U.K. will be given internet access.
Further details about the USO are expected to be announced later this week.
