The Budget's financial support package for a universal high-speed broadband network has been described as "an exercise in spin".

Oliver Johnson, Chief Executive of analysis firm Point Topic, said that funding for Digital Britain was included in the Budget as previously hinted at by business secretary Lord Mandelson.

However, Mr Johnson said this is "not going to be for years and it's not going to be anywhere near enough".

The expert suggested that fuller details of how a next-generation broadband network will be introduced for all households in the UK will be included in technology minister Lord Carter's final Digital Britain report, which is due for release this summer.

"We should have some more definite figures and definite indication of how they're going to achieve this but, at the moment, given how disappointed everyone's been by the previous announcements, we're not holding our breath," Mr Johnson concluded.

In his Budget, chancellor Alistair Darling confirmed that the government will work with the BBC Trust to use money previously set aside for the digital switchover to help fund a national broadband network.