Mandelson must give more to rural broadband

The investment, while welcome, would still leave 10 per cent of the country’s most remote areas without the technology said the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

William Worsley, CLA president, said: “As the Government itself admits, only nine-tenths of the country will benefit from next generation access or superfast broadband by 2017. What will happen to the remaining 10 percent who are inevitably going to be in remote rural areas?

“The £1 billion is a start and we will be actively engaged in the consultation process to try to ensure the Government’s investment is deployed in the right areas.

“But it could cost up to £15 billion to network the UK with fibre optic,” he said.

Mr Worsely urged the Government to consider setting up a public-private partnership to finance the fibre optic roll-out.

He added the Government’s first priority must be to recognise its commitment to provide two megabits per second to every door by 2012.

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