Superfast broadband 'to bring benefits'

Introducing superfast broadband will help to bring a wide range of benefits to businesses and consumers in the south-west, a minister has argued.

Stephen Timms, Digital Britain Minister, said in Plymouth that introducing superfast broadband in the south-west will help to make the region's economy more technologically advanced.

"Digital Britain's aim is to make the UK one of the most competitive, highly skilled and technologically advanced economies in the world. The government will spend some £200 million on improving the broadband networks in areas that have little or no service," said Mr Timms.

He added that steps are already being taken in Devon and the south-west to allow the delivery of superfast networks.

Systems that could be used with a superfast broadband connection include VoIP solutions and video calling.

The government is currently following a universal connectivity policy, which aims to deliver a countrywide minimum broadband access speed of 2Mbps.