'High-speed broadband crucial for Britain'

Deploying high-speed broadband networks throughout the UK will be a vital development if Britain is to remain economically competitive, says a new report.

BroadbandChoices.co.uk, an internet comparison website, said that investing in next-generation fibre optic networks is the future of broadband infrastructure and the government needs to do everything in its power to make sure it is available by 2012.

Faster broadband speeds can facilitate the use of VoIP solutions and general download speeds and BroadbandChoices.co.uk praised internet service provider BT for recently announcing £1.5 billion of investment in the technology.

Michael Phillips, product director of BroadbandChoices.co.uk, said: "We welcome the announcement from BT although the proof of the pudding will be in the speeds this is able to deliver. Big ticket speed promises via new broadband technologies have disappointed in the past."

Virgin Media, one of BT's principal rivals, has launched a 50 megabits-per-second (Mbps) service, although BroadbancChoices.co.uk says that 100Mbps will be needed by 2012.