EAST Hampshire MP Damian Hinds has welcomed news that work is to start on introducing a broadband universal service obligation with a plan to give people the legal right to request a connection to broadband with speeds of 10Mbps, no matter where they live.

Announced on Tuesday by Prime Minister David Cameron, the plans will help make sure that every home and business can have access to fast broadband by the end of this current Parliament in 2020.

Mr Hinds said: “Fast broadband connectivity is rapidly becoming an essential service for all of us and something we rely on in the same way we do gas and electricity supplies.

“Access across East Hampshire remains patchy in some areas, but progress is being made and this commitment will ensure that the on-going delivery of fast broadband remains a priority.”

It is estimated that almost 25,000 premises in East Hampshire now benefit from superfast broadband coverage (25Mbps or better) as a result of the on-going commercial roll-out programme.

A further 10,540 premises are now receiving speedier broadband coverage as a result of the publicly funded programme supported by the government, local authorities, and devolved administrations, added Mr Hinds.