Paying a little more could speed up superfast broadband rollout

A broadband expert has suggested that faster services could be rolled out quicker if consumers and businesses show a willingness to pay a little extra.

Under a resolution adopted by the European Parliament recently, 50 per cent of European Union households should be connected to superfast broadband services by 2015, with a target of 100 per cent by 2020.

Andrew Ferguson, editor at thinkbroadband.com, said that introducing new taxes to fund services would be wrong, while he also urged against forcing providers to offer low prices.

He commented: “Relaxing various things, like business rates on fibre, would boost the desire of firms to put more fibre in the local loop.

“If the UK decides it wants faster broadband and is willing to pay extra, perhaps £10 a month more, then firms would be keener to roll it out, but if we insist on the lowest price possible, then we can only expect firms to deploy low-cost style solutions.”

Fibre optic infrastructure specialist i3 Group has said that a superfast broadband network could be established if Conservative plans to boost hi-tech industries are implemented.

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