The U.K. government on Wednesday earmarked £600 million for clearing spectrum bands and reusing them for mobile broadband.
The announcement was made by George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, as part of his pre-election budget statement.
As well as improving terrestrial networks, he also pledged to test "the latest" satellite technology in a bid to provide coverage to remote areas.
The government will also invest in WiFi for public libraries and the Internet of Things (IoT).
"This is the next stage of the information revolution," said Osborne of IoT, "connecting up everything from urban transport to medical devices, to household appliances."
Furthermore, the government will set itself a new target of providing every home with at least 100 Mbps broadband, should the Conservative party be re-elected in May.
"The use of satellite technology, to reach the remotest areas, alongside moves to free up more spectrum for mobile are evidence of a holistic approach. In addition, the explicit commitment to the Internet of Things ensures that infrastructure improvements translate into tangible benefits for consumers and businesses in the long-ter m," noted EY’s lead telecoms analyst Adrian Baschnonga.
Others were less impressed though.
"We welcome also the government’s ambition for ultrafast broadband," said Greg Mesch, CEO of CityFibre, which is in the process of deploying fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) networks in major U.K. cities. "However, the target of at least 100 megabits per second is too low. As the British economy becomes more digitally based, it is vital that even faster Gigabit speeds are achieved."
He said the U.K.’s infrastructure is underperforming.
"Investment in fibre infrastructure is critical for sustainable economic growth," Mesch said. "Therefore, it is vital the government does all it can to encourage a competitive environment for fibre investment."
