Telecoms can help 'reboot' Britain

Telecoms and other communications technology can help "reboot" Britain's struggling economy, according to the communications minister.

Lord Carter told the Financial Times that he is creating a report on ways to improve the telecoms, technology and media sectors.

He added that Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, was also behind the idea of the digital sectors helping with "a rebooting of the economy".

The former Ofcom chief executive's report will look at topics like providing the UK with superfast broadband.

He told the FT: "The economy is going through turbulent times and particular sectors... not least the financial services sector, are going through particularly turbulent times.

"And therefore, let's look at other sectors... technology, media, telecoms is a critical growth sector... something we are extremely good at, quite well positioned in and could be even better positioned."

Lord Carter was appointed to his position earlier this month, having previously been Gordon Brown's chief of strategy and principal adviser, a post he began in January this year.