Information Technology

UK next-gen broadband gets funding body

(ZD NET UK) - Two major upgrades to the UK’s broadband infrastructure have moved closer with the creation of an organisation which will allocate funding for the work.

On Thursday, the government launched Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), which will allocate funds for the two major schemes: the universal service commitment and next-generation broadband. The universal service commitment will ensure all households have a 2Mbps connection by 2012, while the £1bn next-generation broadband fund will supplement private-sector investment with the aim of offering next-generation broadband speeds to 90 percent of the population by 2017.

BDUK comprises 12 staff within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and will inform the public of its work through ministerial and press announcements. It will be led by Adrian Kamellard, head of information, technology and change for Partnerships UK, a quango promoting public-private sector partnerships.

“We welcome the launch of Broadband Delivery UK as an important milestone for the rollout of next generation access across the UK,” Broadband Stakeholder Group chief Antony Walker told ZDNet UK on Friday. “We look forward to working with them to deliver this ambitious project and would urge them to work closely with the industry to ensure that we get effective investment in Britain’s broadband future.”

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