SCDI calls for commitment to telephone tax for rural Scottish broadband

The Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) has called for the rapid introduction of a so-called telephone tax that could be used to fund web networks in rural Scotland.

Funding for around 70 per cent of the government's Digital Britain plan is expected to come from the broadband market, but plans for a 50p tax on home phone lines throughout the UK could help pay higher roll-out costs for residents in regions such as rural Scotland.

This could help countryside communities to enjoy fast connection speeds and use VoIP hardware more effectively, despite being further away from telephone exchanges.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills said: "We will be consulting on the 'final third' fund in the autumn but no final decisions have yet been made about the legislative vehicle for introduction of the levy."

The SCDI is concerned that the levy will be delayed, meaning rural communities will have to wait even longer for fast connectivity.

Discussions with mobile phone operators could result in wireless networks being used throughout the UK countryside.