Labour pledges superfast broadband for all

Labour has pledged to "redouble" efforts to bring superfast broadband to all corners of the UK if it wins the general election next month.

The party's manifesto has been released today (13 April) and includes a promise to ensure homes and businesses in even the most remote parts of the country get access to the internet. Labour's goal is to get 100 per cent of the population online.

"This will include superfast broadband being available to all parts of the UK that are not economic for the market to serve unaided," a spokesperson for the party said.

"We will also work with the regulator to ensure the right framework is in place to maximise the potential of private sector investment in broadband networks."

Labour has also criticised the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government for a lack of progress on bringing superfast broadband to all parts of the UK in the last five years.

The coalition made broadband one of its top priorities but many companies in rural parts of the country have been left without superfast broadband connections.

A target of having superfast broadband available to 95 per cent of properties in the UK has been set by the Liberal Democrats.

The party has defended its record on broadband in government, noting that in the last five years the coalition government invested £1 billion in boosting broadband infrastructure.

Chancellor George Osborne recently announced that broadband internet is to be made a basic legal right in the UK following the introduction of a universal service obligation (USO).

Mr Osborne stated that the Conservatives want to introduce a national minimum broadband speed of 100Mbps.

"The government is committed to ensuring that every single household in the UK has access to the basic broadband needed to live and work in the modern world," a government strategy paper said.

Businesses looking to move services into the cloud, should evaluate the performance of their existing network and consider setting up a leased line or MPLS network.

(Image: Bidgee)