BT's 'near monopoly' of rural broadband attacked by MPs

The government's £1.2bn rural superfast broadband scheme has been mismanaged and has left sole provider BT in a "quasi monopolistic position", the chairwoman of the Commons spending watchdog has said.

Margaret Hodge, Public Accounts Committee Chair, said: "Overall, BT is supposed to provide at least 90% coverage in rural areas but it is preventing local authorities from publishing proper information on the areas the company will and will not cover.

"Details of speed and coverage in each local project are also being kept confidential, preventing other suppliers from developing schemes aimed at reaching the remaining 10% of premises and stopping communities and others from identifying alternative ways of providing superfast broadband."