UK set for super fast broadband

Britain could soon have one of the “best superfast broadband networks in Europe” following UK culture secretary Jeremy Hunt's first speech on the matter.

Mr Hunt slammed the previous government's commitment to broadband as “pitifully unambitious” given that nearly three million households can't even access a “paltry 2Mbps”.

The biggest expenditure associated with creating the new superfast network is the cost of digging up roads while new regulations could force utility firms to open their ducts to cabling.

The culture secretary emphasised the importance of the scheme in a BBC news report where he was quoted as saying:

“Some people ask why we need these speeds when the iPlayer can manage less than 1Mbps. They are missing the point.

“Superfast broadband is not simply about doing the same things faster. It's about doing totally new things – creating a platform on which a whole generation of new businesses can thrive.”

It is thought that a new superfast service could help create some 60,000 new jobs and add to £18bn of GDP with new and businesses better supported and connected.

Although Mr Hunt was unable to provide further details as to how such an ambitious new measure was to be achieved it is thought that licence-fee money leftover from the digital switch-over help scheme will now be redirected into the project.

Further details are expected to be released at an industry event in July and involve Broadband Delivery UK.