Labour broadband manifesto could boost VoIP traffic

Adoption of IP telephony solutions across the UK could be boosted if the Labour party wins the upcoming general election.

Labour yesterday officially outlined its election manifesto, in which it pledged to provide all UK homes and businesses with 2Mbps broadband by 2012, ISPreview UK has said.

The party plans to reach the ten per cent of properties that cannot be reached by conventional connections using satellite and mobile broadband technology, according to the ISP reviews website.

Universal access to 2Mbps broadband would increase access to VoIP solutions in the UK by providing the bandwidth and reliability needed to convey VoIP traffic.

The Labour manifesto also reintroduces the 50p landline tax that was dropped from the Digital Economy Bill before it passed into law last week, which is intended to help fund the roll-out of next-generation broadband.

The manifestos of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, including their proposals for universal broadband and next-generation access, will be published today and tomorrow respectively.

Broadband subscriptions worldwide will rise to half a billion in 2010, Informa Telecoms & Media said earlier in the year.

The continued spread of fixed broadband could potentially see more households and businesses taking up VoIP solutions.