Funding of between £130 million and £170 million per year should enable the majority of UK consumers to receive high-speed broadband services, according to a new study.

Research conducted by Point Topic indicates that the government will need to subsidise the development on the national internet infrastructure if it wishes to meet its commitment to improve service levels.

The amount required will vary across the UK's 650 parliamentary constituencies, with those based in rural areas obviously requiring greater levels of public support in order to join the digital revolution.

According to ISPreview, Labour's proposed 50p-a-month broadband tax would recoup around £175 million for the Treasury – enough to pay for the upgrades needed if Point Topic's prediction is accurate.

However, the Conservative proposals to use TV license payer money would see a figure closer to the £130 million minimum collected by the state for broadband investment, the website claimed.

Last week, the Tories pledged to make 100Mb broadband services available to the majority of the UK by 2017 if the party returns to power at the upcoming general election.