The UK government has signalled its commitment to ensuring everyone in the country has access to broadband speeds of two megabit per second by 2012. Earlier this year Lord Carter set out his interim recommendations for Digital Britain, in which he proposed a Universal Service for broadband.

He recommended a minimum of 2Mbps, which the government has now backed.

The Treasury said the cost would be met in part by underspend from the BBC’s promotion of Digital TV switchover. The government’s backing of 2Mbps was contained in the Budget Report

That speed would “allow virtually everyone to experience the benefits of broadband, including the increasing delivery of public services online”.

It added: “It will also offer advantages to UK businesses, both those located in areas that will benefit from the network upgrade and those that make use of online channels to engage with their customers.” The government said Universal Service would be complemented with “further support to improve basic digital skills and promote broadband take-up”.