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'Super-fast broadband' in UK homes by 2017 - Tories

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  • 31-01-2010 2:11pm
    #1
    bealtine
    Registered Users Posts: 4,051 ✭✭✭


    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8489870.stm



    The Conservatives have unveiled plans to deliver a "nationwide super-fast broadband", part of which could be funded from the BBC licence fee.

    Shadow chancellor George Osborne said a Tory government would deliver speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) to the "majority" of homes by 2017.

    He said cabling in rural areas could be paid for by private investors or part of the licence fee.

    The government target is homes should have access to speeds of 2Mbps by 2012.

    Mr Osborne told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "In the 19th Century we built the railways, in the 20th Century we built the motorways, in the 21st Century let's build the super-fast broadband network that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs for Britain."

    The Tories said money from private investors would pay for better cabling.

    But the Conservative Party said it might not be attractive for private companies to install broadband cabling in some rural areas, in which case a proportion of the BBC licence fee could be used.

    It said the BBC could continue to set aside 3.5% of its licence fee - which currently goes to the digital switchover - to fund broadband expansion.

    A government report on the UK's digital future - dubbed Digital Britain - was published in June 2009.

    The action plan included universal access to broadband by 2012.

    The wide-ranging report also tackled internet regulation and public service broadcasting.


Comments

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    #2
    trekkypj
    Registered Users Posts: 346 ✭✭trekkypj


    When even the Tories are proposing such moves, it puts our own lack of investment into sharp, sharp focus.


  • Options
    #3
    bealtine
    Registered Users Posts: 4,051 ✭✭✭bealtine


    trekkypj wrote: »
    When even the Tories are proposing such moves, it puts our own lack of investment into sharp, sharp focus.

    More like the lack of political vision and the proposals to change that lack of vision...


  • Options
    #4
    trekkypj
    Registered Users Posts: 346 ✭✭trekkypj


    bealtine wrote: »
    More like the lack of political vision and the proposals to change that lack of vision...

    That too, but I was being charitable... :D

    Hopefully that will change in 2012 if not sooner. But I am sceptical of the ability of the current crop of TDs and Senators to get cracking and to give the relevant authorities the much-needed butt kicking, followed by some funding, to get the job done properly.

    One can only dream...


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