In a move which will increase calls for UK government funding to assist with the roll out of the next stage of the UK broadband revolution it has been announced that the Canadian government has promised a minimum $500 million (up to $750 million) investment over the next 8 years. It has been suggested that the private sector will need to match that figure to make the deal work and pay for the estimated $1.5 billion cost in total.
While Canada already boasts a more than adequate broadband network it is a reflection of the importance this area of communication will have on businesses in the future. Calls for the UK authorities to follow suit in the form of cold hard cash or tax incentives continues to grow louder but there are concerns that the funding is just not there.
Even though we see the big headlines in the UK about government hopes for the UK broadband sector it seems as though many of the promises of assistance are nothing more than hot air. Will this change in the future? Will we see the government taking firm control of the project? Or will it all be left in the hands of Ofcom and BT to squabble over the last penny?