PM Brown promises faster broadband service for all Brits by 2020
Super-fast broadband will reach every UK home by 2020, the Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown said today.
Last week, the Tories announced that they would make 100Mbps broadband service available for most homes by 2017 in their technology manifesto. Their plans are to open up BT’s network to other ISPs so they would extend the coverage across the country. If needed, a part of BBC license fee will be used to build the network, it was stated.
Tories have been opposing the government’s 50p broadband tax plans, instead they are backing market led approach for connecting most homes with the high-speed broadband internet.
Disagreeing with such a view as the ISPs are less likely to speed up the superfast broadband coverage across the rural and remote places , the PM attacked the market for its inability to look beyond profitability.
“We can allow the market to provide a solution on its own terms and according to its own timetable.”
“The alternative is our vision: ensuring, not simply hoping for, universal coverage.” he added.
Mr. Brown also announced the launch of ‘mygov’ website to handle public grievances, issues etc more promptly and efficiently.
A new institute of Web Science will also be formed in Britain with £30m funds while Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the world wide web will contribute his services as the head, the PM said.
The Labour Administration headed by Brown has already pledged 2Mb universal broadband access by 2012 and high-speed broadband for 90% of UK households by 2017.
The Digital Economy Bill of the government has already included broadband tax proposals to fund the high-speed rural broadband infrastructure.
However, Tories have vowed to scrap the tax if they win the coming general elections.
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