Government plans super-fast broadband for all by 2015
The Government is pushing ahead with a plan to roll out super-fast broadband across the UK, but has moved the deadline from 2012 to 2015.
Under the previous Labour Government, the aim was to deliver 2Mbps broadband access to all by 2012.
But the Coalition has now decided 2015 is a more realistic target, and has put aside £830m for the scheme. Some of the money will come from funds given to the BBC to pay for the switch to digital TV.
The private sector is to deliver broadbands to two thirds of the country. Other, mainly rural, areas will receive public funds to build a "digital hub" with a fibre optic internet connection.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt says the strategy will give the country Europe's best broadband network by 2015 and will be central to economic growth and the delivery of future public services, dependent on quick, reliable access to the internet.
"The reason we want to do this is simple – it's about jobs," says Mr Hunt. "It's silly to hang your hat on a speed like two meg when the game is changing the whole time. "But the Government will not define the minimum speed it hopes the super-fast service will offer.
A recent study by the regulator Ofcom revealed that fewer than one per cent of UK homes have a super-fast broadband connection of at least 24Mbps.
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Comments
These government people talk nonsense!
Most of Europe already has speeds much faster than UK, even little eastern countries like Latvia! Government has to do a hell of a lot more to just play catch-up to Scandinavia & other European countries as well, as most other countries worldwide.
UK is one of the slowest broadband states in the world!
Oh yes, I was VERY careful when typing that one!
After this morning's Radio 4 fiasco, I'm glad we got that picture caption right...
We have just got super-fast broadband in my area, but BT infinity is the only package on the market available to me, so I hope that this government money is not a way for BT to keep a strangle hold on this market. Come on broadband suppliers lets have some competition and get prices down to reasonable level.