Next-gen broadband demand 'will be there'

The public will want next-generation broadband, according to a member of the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM).

Nick Palmer MP, speaking at the Westminster eForum seminar on the subject, explained that because broadband is "very much an international market", demand should increase.

He used peer-to-peer sites where users can share music as an example of how applications can appear and fuel demand.

"With a lot of new applications coming out, they are going to be popping up across the world and British consumers are going to want to be a part of them, but obviously there is a whole range of issues on how and when, but I think the demand is going to be there," he said.

There has been a large amount of debate in recent months over how the country's next-generation access should be funded.

The industry watchdog Ofcom has called on private investment, but with support from regulation.