The UK's copper broadband network is out-of-date and should be retired, one communications expert has claimed.

Speaking exclusively to ISPreview.co.uk, NextGenUs Founder Guy Jarvis claimed that internet service providers should now focus on fibre-optic broadband technologies.

He said that fibre-to-the-home broadband should become as widespread as mains electricity is today.

"What concerns [us] is to learn lessons from the first wave of community broadband and ADSL rollouts dating back to 2002-5," Mr Jarvis said.

He claimed that mistakes were made during this process, and 'digital dead-ends' were created through the continued use of outdated legacy broadband delivery technologies.

"In other words, the time to retire copper wire is past already," Mr Jarvis said.

Rolling out fibre broadband across the whole of the UK is "key" to delivering on the government's Digital Britain promises, he suggested.

The Con-Lib coalition is to spend £830 million creating a network of digital hubs designed to bring high-speed broadband to remote communities across the UK.