“I understand how frustrating it must be for the residents of Rotherhithe to have slower broadband areas than they rightly expect to receive,” said Mayor of London Boris Johnson this week.

The Mayor was responding to questions tabled by London Assembly members Val Shawcross (Labour) and Darren Johnson (Green).

The Green Party assembly member asked the Mayor: ” Will you write to the European Commission urging them to investigate the market failure that is depriving residents in Rotherhithe of superfast broadband, enabling the Government and GLA to ensure that all properties – for businesses and residents – are able to gain superfast connections without falling foul of state aid rules?”

The Mayor replied: “Through the process to develop the Super Connected Cities Programme, BDUK, on the delivery authorities’ behalf, have discussed extensively the barriers to the public sector taking a role in the installation of ultrafast broadband.

“As a result of this process, the entire programme has been reviewed and shifted from a supply to demand led offer, as the state aid legislation was seen as an insurmountable barrier. DCMS are taking this up with the EU Commissioner.”