Budget confirms broadband investment

Chancellor Alastair Darling has announced that the government will push ahead with plans to roll out 2Mbps broadband across the UK in his 2009 Budget speech today (April 22nd).

Wednesday, 22 April 2009

Darling said that the government will deploy universal broadband service and invest more in the promotion of broadband take up and the building of basic digital skills.

The Budget also confirms that approval has been given to set up a Digital Region, which will take the form of a £100 million project to implement next generation broadband services in South Yorkshire, led by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

"I am allocating extra funding for digital investment to help to extend the broadband network to almost every community," Darling said.

"This will allow us to deliver the vision set out in the Digital Britain report - making sure everyone can benefit from this communications revolution and create thousands more skilled jobs."

Overall, £10 billion is to be set aside for the communications sector, including a new £750 million Strategic Investment Fund to offer financial support to the emerging technologies industry sectors that have regional importance, such as digital media, advanced manufacturing and biotechnology.

In addition, the government will organise a review of the powers and duties of Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, to check that it is able to find the right balance when it comes to promoting investment and competition.

This year's Budget was delivered over a variety of online platforms, with live video, social media and blogging playing a key role both officially and in the press.

Twitter was used by Downing Street to send live updates on the Budget speech to its followers, for example.

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