Tories pledge 100Mb broadband for majority by 2017

After expressing concern over Labour’s plans for a nationwide super-fast broadband network put forward in its Digital Britain report, the Conservatives have shed some light on their alternative ideas.

Conservation shadow chancellor George Osborne has pledged to deliver speeds of 100Mb to the “majority” of homes in the UK by 2017 – theoretically undercutting the 2Mb universal broadband speed promised by the Labour government by 2012.

In order to fund the plans set in the Digital Britain report, the Labour government have already confirmed they plan to charge a 50p broadband levy on all phone lines, regardless of whether they are in regular use of not. It’s a point that’s often been used as ammunition by the opposing Tories as they make their pledges in light of the next General Election. They have promised to scrap this controversial tax if they come to power.

Instead, the Conservatives say they will be able to subsidise cabling in rural areas with funds from private investors, with any shortfalls being made up by the licence fee (approximately 3.5 per cent).

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show George Osborne commented: “In the 19th Century we built the railways. In the 20th Century we built the motorways. In the 21st Century let’s build the super-fast broadband network that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs for Britain.”

It’s a pledge that hasn’t gone down well with both their Labour and Liberal Democrat opponents. Speaking on the plans Labour Treasury Minister Stephen Timms accused the Tories of “playing catch-up” commenting: “Labour have already announced measures for rolling out broadband across the country – and the Tories have opposed the plans to make that happen.” Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats said the Tories operated “fantasy world economics”.

BT, the internet service provider with a substantial 25 per cent share of the UK broadband market, said it was happy to work with politicians from every party but reiterated “going substantially further” to improve the country’s network would require public sector support. 

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