Government May Help Fund Super Fast Broadband

At the Digital Britain summit in London, the Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, has hinted that there may be Government funds available to help roll out super fast broadband across the UK.

With only half of the UK’s homes expected to have access to BT’s new super fast fibre optic broadband service by 2012, Lord Carter’s Digital Britain goal of full UK coverage currently looks unachievable – unless the Government intervenes.
Commenting on the possibility of Government funding, Lord Mandelson said, “Of course there is a possibility, but naturally enough not a certainty because I cannot pre-empt decisions taken by those above my pay grade.

Mandelson continued, “But let me say that I am a public investor where it is appropriate and right. I am not however somebody who believes in replacing market forces or displacing the private sector where they need to be in the lead and can do better than us in the government. So support, encourage, aid abet, even pump-prime here or there, is what we need to do as a government, but how and when are for others to decide.”

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, also stated at the summit that creating a universal service obligation for basic broadband was vital for competitiveness in the UK economy.
Overall further investment is required for more UK homes to benefit from super fast fibre optic broadband in the years ahead – so any funding from the Government would be welcome.