BT think that the “broadband tax” to help fund next generation fibre broadband that is to be charged to all fixed telephone lines should be extended to also include mobile phone users.
The “Broadband Tax” as set out in the Digital Britain report means that a levy of 50p per month, £6 per year, is to be charged to every fixed telephone line that is expected to raise around £1.5 bn.
BT say that as it won’t only be fixed line broadband operators who will be able to bid for a share of the money and that the mobile operators will also be able to bid for some too.
Emma Gilthorpe, BT’s director of industry policy and regulation has said that “the government should consider the opportunity to widen the base for the tax and possibly reduce the amount that each individual household pays.” with regards to mobile operators looking to claim some of the money raised from the broadband tax.
The money raised is to fund the deployment of fibre broadband into areas of the country where it wouldn’t be feasible for broadband providers to fund the installation themselves.
BT is planning on installing it to 40% of the UK population at a speed of 40Mb, Virgin Media however already offer their fibre optic broadband service to 50% of the population and have a headline speed of 50Mb broadband.