More than one million homes and offices are struggling to get ‘decent’ broadband, new Ofcom report finds.

The Connected Nations report shows that broadband coverage to people’s homes and businesses has continued to improve.

However, it also estimated around 1.1 million UK premises (4%) cannot access ‘decent’ broadband.

Ofcom defines ‘decent’ as a connection capable of delivering a download speed of at least 10Mbit/s and an upload speed of at least 1Mbit/s. This is the specification for the Government’s proposed broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO).

Poor broadband connectivity is a particular concern for small businesses. Ofcom estimates almost 230,000 small businesses (7%) cannot receive decent broadband.

Responding to a report earlier in the year on the areas with the slowest broadband, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, chairman of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) people and places board emphasised the importance of decent connectivity to local areas.

‘Access to fast and reliable digital connectivity is a vital element of everyday life for residents and can help them cut household bills, shop online for cheaper goods, stay in touch with distant relatives, file tax returns and access their bank accounts,’ he said.