Subsidise broadband rollout, says Bland

Sir Christopher Bland, chairman of BT, told MPs that rural parts of Britain could miss out on getting broadband internet access via telephone lines for a generation unless the rollout is publicly subsidised.

Sir Christopher told the Commons select committee on culture, media and sport areas "with less than 20,000 homes and businesses linked to a local exchange simply aren't viable for broadband today".

The evidence, given to committee hearings on the government's communications white paper, was challenged by executives from Cable & Wireless -who said BT had held back broadband provision.