Boris Johnson's full fibre plan needs more detail says industry

Broadband infrastructure providers want more detail from Boris Johnson after he pledged to accelerate the UK's roll-out of "full-fibre" internet connection. 

The front-runner in the Conservative Party leadership contest has written that he wants the super-fast service to be available "for all by 2025". That would be eight years ahead of the government's current goal.

Mr Johnson acknowledges there will be extra costs, but industry insiders say there are other considerations too.

'Laughably unambitious'

The Department for Digital Culture, Media & Sports (DCMS) announced last year that every home in the UK should be able to get full-fibre broadband by 2033.

This involves installing high-speed optical cables to bring data right up to buildings without having to rely on slower copper for part of the journey. This should deliver speeds of one gigabit per second and beyond.

As of May, the telecoms regulator Ofcom said that only 7% of UK Properties were currently served. 

Mr Johnson wrote in the Daily Telegraph that the current deadline was 'laughably unambitious". 

"This will cost some public money, but the productivity gains are immense," he added.