Ofcom has announced the publication of new recommendations for the provision of ultra-fast broadband services.

As well as investigating how services offering speeds of 100Mbps and beyond can best be introduced to new housing and business developments, the telecoms regulator has also announced that it will conduct a survey to examine the capability of UK broadband infrastructure to deliver such services to existing homes throughout the UK.

The new proposals have been introduced in an attempt to encourage future investment in the high speed market, as well as increasing competition among internet service providers in order to deliver savings to customers.

Speaking today at the Institute of Engineering and Technology Chief executive Ed Richards, said: "Super-fast next generation broadband will come to change our perception of communications radically; alongside mobile broadband, it will in time have a similar impact upon our society and economy as ... first generation broadband."

In other recent announcements, Ofcom has opened up a consultation regarding the way that public service broadcasting will be funded in the future. One suggestion made by the regulator is that broadband providers could contribute to the costs of producing non-profit programmes to reflect the changing online viewing habits of consumers.