Budget plans for broadband pledge not 'anywhere near enough'

Funding plans to boost future broadband provision in the UK recently outlined in the Budget statement aren't going to be "anywhere near enough", an expert claims.

Chancellor Alistair Darling's Budget statement reiterated support for the plans to provide broadband of a minimum speed of 2Mbps to every household by 2012.

Prior to this, business secretary Peter Mandelson indicated that government finance could well be necessary to ensure the pledge is met by the deadline.

Oliver Johnson, chief executive at Point-Topic.com, agreed that Lord Mandelson's statement was "true" and pointed out this was also reflected in the Budget.

However, Mr Johnson said any funding initiative is "not going to be for years and it's not going to be anywhere near enough, so it was an in exercise in spin really".

He added: "What we really need to wait for is Lord Carter's final [Digital Britain] report in the summer, then we should have some more definite figures and definite indication of how they're going to achieve this but, at the moment, given how disappointed everyone's been by the previous announcements, we're not holding our breath."

In related news, the Treasury is ready to consult with the BBC about using the £250 million under spend from the Digital Switchover Help Scheme for future broadband provision.