Election 2015: broadband policy breakdown

With the election on May 7^th nearly upon us, the main political parties are making clear their plans on how technology will be used to aid public services and the economy if they win.

Broadband policy is a key issue for the UK electorate in the upcoming election, with nearly one fifth (18%) saying it will affect the way they vote, according to a survey of 2,500 UK residents by broadband, TV and mobile comparison site Cable.co.uk.

Here’s a breakdown of their technology policies for broadband delivery:

Conservatives

• Meet existing targets of 95% superfast broadband, with satellite services used to serve the final 5%
• Rollout ‘ultrafast’ broadband of 1Gbps
• Britain to take the lead in 5G development

Labour: 

• Affordable high-speed broadband available to whole country by the end of parliament
• Maximise the amount of private investment in the sector

Lib Dems

• Make high speed broadband available to 99.9% of households and businesses in rural and urban areas.
• Ensure the licence fee doesn’t increase faster than inflation

Greens

• Every household and small business to have access to affordable high-speed broadband through public telecommunications operators

UKIP

• No broadband or mobile policies, except a review of licence fee with “a view to its reduction”

SNP

• Invest further in superfast broadband and 4Grollout
• Tackle digital exclusion
• Allocate 1.5m for free Wi-Fi in public buildings

Plaid Cymru

• Make sure all homes and businesses in Wales have access to minimum 30Mbps broadband
• Demand mobile phone operators provide a better service to the entire country