Experts say UK unlikely to meet 2015 fibre broadband targets

The UK is unlikely to meet its goals of having a Europe-leading fibre broadband network in place by 2015, according to industry experts.

At the recent Internet Services Providers' Association (ISPA) conference, Timico chief executive officer Trefor Davies questioned a sample of sector representatives on the prospects of Britain becoming the best place for broadband within four years.

This is the target that has been laid out by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with an £830 million digital hub strategy having been set out last year with the aim of pursuing this goal.

However, Mr Davies said only one person out of around 126 at the ISPA event believed this to be achievable, with others suggesting it could take until 2025 before the UK has a competitive fibre broadband network.

"I think the debate and the political rhetoric needs to change to reflect this," said the Timico chief.

Other issues debated at the conference in London included the role of the government in subsidising high-speed broadband rollout in rural areas.