An organisation which will be given responsibility for rolling out universal broadband in the UK has been launched.

The government has announced that Broadband Delivery UK will be tasked with taking control of efforts to launch universal 2Mb services by 2012.

Unveiled in a new report of the provision of internet in the UK, it was also revealed that the body will manage the introduction of next generation web services across 90 per cent of the UK by 2017.

Stephen Timms, the Digital Britain Minister, said all homes and businesses should benefit from high-speed internet platforms.

"We do not want to risk the digital gap widening, which is why we have put a team of experts in place to ensure further investment is targeted at those people without adequate access," he added.

The government recently revealed plans to get over seven million new internet users in the UK online by 2014.