On digital inclusion Cameron promises a ‘Manifesto for a networked nation’: but the UK government’s broadband aims remain unambitious

Abstract

The internet is now a ubiquitous force in our lives, with more than four fifths of the UK population online. And in an age of fiscal austerity there is considerable pressure for government to more effectively cut costs by shifting more and more public services online. However, Chris Gilson finds that government policies aimed at getting more people online may not close the ‘digital divide’, and that the aims for UK broadband speeds are anyway underwhelming