National 100Mbps 'will cost £3k per home'

Offering 100Mbps broadband services to the entire UK population would cost around £3,000 per property on average, it has been claimed.

Taking homes across the UK to the 100Mbps target will require "a lot more fibre optic cable to the home", according to the Editor of ThinkBroadband.com, Andrew Ferguson.

He said that taking commercial coverage from 60% of the population to around 99% would cost around £4 billion to reach a 50Mbps target.

Mr Ferguson added: "You could reach 75Mbps with around £3 billion investment i.e. 15% to 20% more than current commercial plans.

"For the final quarter, the price escalates - potentially to around £3000 per property."

His comments follow the publication of the Conservative Party's technology manifesto, which includes details on upgrading broadband coverage across the UK.

The plans include proposals to improve on Labour's superfast broadband pledge with a commitment to deliver 100Mbps speeds.

If the plans go ahead, Britain will be on course to becoming the first European country to extend 100Mbps broadband to most of its population.

Posted by Martin Ellis