Experts from the broadband industry seem to be quite unhappy with the recent announcement about the funding of Digital Britain as per the UK budget. There was a major wave of criticism regarding the lack of clarity in the promise to infuse money into the Digital Britain plans of providing everyone with a broadband connection.

Alistair Darling claimed that the government would provide funds for the effort but many believe that the funding plan is inadequate and not well thought out. Charles Trotman, the head of rural business development of the Country Land and Business Association has pointed out a major flaw in the plan. He said that the promise to fund efforts to meet the Digital Britain target by 2012 couldn’t be fulfilled, as the amount needed will be available only by 2012.

Trotman told the Guardian that the situation has everyone confused. He said that only when he had gone through the details of the funding initiative, did it become clear to him that the funds were to come from the savings from the Digital TV project. Hence, there is no way of knowing how much would really be left until the project was over. He also cautioned that the no matter what the budget report said, the money might be less than the estimated £250 million claimed.

The project of giving every home in the UK a broadband connection is already an issue of debate in the broadband circles and the speed of 2Mb is also being regarded as too low by many.

Oliver Johnson, CEO of Point Topic (a broadband analysis firm) said that in comparison to the US and Australia, the amount was too small an investment. He suggested that the final report by Lord Carter might shed more light on the financing promises being made by the government.

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