The UK government is considering intervening in the way broadband is rolled out, in an effort to speed up the deployment of super-fast services. Stephen Timms, Minister for Competitiveness, ordered a summit to look at the role of government in providing next-generation broadband. While other countries are investing in new ways to deliver higher bandwidth, the UK is seen as lagging behind. Mr Timms said broadband infrastructure was one of his "personal priorities".
"Today we face a new challenge. Other countries are starting to invest in new, fibre-based infrastructure, delivering considerably higher bandwidth than is available in the UK today," Mr Timms told the Broadband Stakeholder Group and others attending a meeting on Tuesday evening.
"I have decided to chair a high level summit later this year to consider the circumstances that might trigger public sector intervention and the form that intervention might take," he said.