Rural Britain worry for universal broadband plans

Building a viable high-speed broadband network in the UK may not reach many rural areas due to the excessive cost of the operation, it has been claimed.

Communications minister Lord Carter recently unveiled the Digital Britain report with the headline pledge to provide broadband of a minimum speed of 2Mbps to all UK households by 2012.

However, the minister has expressed his fear that some rural parts of Britain may end up being excluded from the vital communications and media service.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Lord Carter admitted there could be 25 to 30 per cent of the country "where there will be no economic case for building a next generation fixed network".

However, he added that freeing up the wireless radio spectrum for the greater provision of mobilebroadband, alongside satellite networks, could play a role in reaching remote areas.

In related news, the government recently hinted that it is ready to intervene in the row over the wireless spectrum in order to boost future mobilebroadband coverage.

O2 and Vodafone currently own the 900Mhz band but must first reach an agreement with the other major operators - T-Mobile, Orange and 3 - before freeing up the spectrum.