Universal broadband pledge should benefit all, says experts

The government's Universal Service Commitment (USC) to provide broadband of 2Mbps to all households by 2012 should benefit all internet users, a leading organisation claims.

Analysis firm Point Topic has welcomed the pledge, laid out in Lord Carter's interim Digital Britain report, particularly as it will benefit the UK's 'slowband' areas.

Tim Johnson, chief analyst at the company, said: "We believe that investing to deliver 2Mbps could provide the platform for full next-generation broadband in areas where it would not otherwise happen for many years."

Mr Johnson said that prioritising quality of service and additional features, alongside the minimum broadband speeds, should also mean that all broadband users stand to benefit from the initiative.

"One way or another, all users would have to pay a little more for their broadband because of a USC. [But] it will be a little bit more popular if it includes features that benefit everybody," he explained.

Recent research conducted by telecoms regulator Ofcom revealed that average broadband speeds during peak times are 30 per cent lower than during off-peak times.