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Superfast broadband 'would boost UK economy'
Tuesday 20th January 2009, by Daniel King
The government must take steps to increase broadband speeds and improve availability to help combat the recession, experts have claimed.
According to the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta), ministers must be "more ambitious" about plans to roll out universal broadband in Britain.
The group claims that the introduction of fibre optics could boost the UK economy, with the potential to create 600,000 ICT jobs over the next four years.
Free basic broadband should also be offered to low-income households to prevent social exclusion and help boost hard-hit families, it suggested.
Nesta chief executive Jonathan Kestenbaum said failure to invest in the rollout of superfast broadband would see the UK miss out on "a critical opportunity".
"Our economic growth will be dependent on the development of new businesses and products that the digital revolution is generating," he insisted.
With the help of government funding, the industry would need to ensure the speedy development of fibre-optic infrastructure across the UK, he added.
"In unprecedented economic times, we have to think imaginatively about how we can invest in major infrastructure projects whilst not cutting off large swathes of communities from economic and social development," Mr Kestenbaum said.
The Country Land and Business Association issued a similar call to the government last week, claiming that greater commitment must be made to improving broadband availability.
Despite welcoming plans to universalise the service, the group warned that words must be put into "concrete action" in the form of significant public sector investment.
Categories: Broadband
