'Broadband is essential service for UK society - Timms'

Broadband is no longer a luxury in the UK and has become an essential service delivering social, commercial and economic benefits, according to Stephen Timms, Minister for Digital Britain. Writing in the Telegraph, Timms said that broadband was available to 99 percent of the country, but speeds were variable and service was weak or non-existent in some parts. He pledged that improving broadband access in rural areas was top of the government's agenda, supported by a Universal Service Commitment to provide 2 Mbps broadband to all homes. However, there are currently 2.75 million homes, most in remote communities, that cannot support a 2 Mbps broadband service. Timms said the government was setting up a small company to design a procurement model that will deliver an optimum network at maximum value for the public investment. In some broadband not-spots, fibre connections might be the best and most cost-effective answer, allowing communities to jump straight to a high-speed broadband service with speeds well in excess of 2 Mbps. The government has allocated GBP 200 million to fund the Universal Service Commitment, with funds to be spent first in areas with little or no service. He said the government welcomed Virgin Media's upgrade of its network and BT's intentions to bring 10 million homes within reach of fibre services by 2012. However, he argued that given the high costs involved, the market cannot be expected to extend Next Generation coverage to every rural area without publicly funded support.

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