Government 'needs to focus on rural broadband'

Rural businesses are in greater need of broadband infrastructure improvements than their counterparts in the UK's big cities, it has been claimed.

Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon, told the Daily Telegraph that the coalition must prioritise locations which have poor connectivity.

He made the statement after the Broadband Development UK unit of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said in an advertisement that it is keen to invest in super-fast broadband in cities.

Mr Smith said it is important that the bulk of the available funding goes to locations that need it the most.

"I'm anxious to ensure as much of the £530 million available as possible goes to deal with areas of market failure and my understanding is that the £530 million is for very rural areas as the priorities," he told the news provider.

Ofcom has announced it is to force BT to reduce its prices for broadband in rural locations by 12 per cent below inflation per year.