Industry news

Govt 'needs to back fibre optics'

The government should back up industry's attempts to introduce next-generation broadband to the UK, an expert has claimed.

Michael Phillips, product director of informative website BroadbandChoices.co.uk, revealed that it could cost up to £15 billion to install fibre optic cables across the UK.

He added that government has promised £1.5 billion towards the endeavour, but pointed to the difference between the two sums and called for increased funding.

Mr Phillips compared the current situation to the Crossrail transport project which the government has invested £15 billion in and suggested the uptake of fibre optic cable is more important.

"Crossrail is a project which is only going to have an impact on the south-east of the UK, whereas putting fibre optic cable into the whole of the UK will have an impact for everybody," he explained.

According to BT, the introduction of next-generation broadband will have several benefits to the UK.

Organisations will be able to run multiple bandwidth-hungry applications and firms will also have the opportunity to carry out activities such as video conferencing and homeworking.