New plans to launch super-fast 100Mb broadband across the UK have been announced by the Conservatives.

The policy is included in the Tories' new Technology Manifesto, which outlines how the political party intends to boost the economy and create jobs through IT innovation.

It is thought 100Mb broadband will be 50 times faster than Labour's planned network and would also boost firms involved in the creative industries.

Francis Maude, Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, said the aim was to make the UK government the most technology-friendly in the world.

Shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt added: "Our ambition is to ensure that the next generation of Googles, Microsofts and Facebooks are British companies."

Mr Hunt recently welcomed BT's proposed move to open up its network of underground networks to rival broadband providers.

He said such a plan had been a central part of the Conservatives' broadband policy for over a year.