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Mobile 4G coverage could push up rural broadband bills, say experts
Experts are worried that 4G data costs could make broadband more expensive for subscribers in rural areas.
This is according to rural broadband campaigners, who told PC Pro that including 4G in the broadband mix could lead to prohibitive data costs.
The government has pledged to bring minimum broadband speeds of 2Mbps to all homes and businesses in the UK by 2015, with culture minister Ed Vaizey recently suggesting that next year's 4G spectrum action will play a part in meeting the target.
However, experts have said this approach could make services unaffordable for people in rural areas.
"There aren't many really unlimited packages for data and the data that you have to buy is significantly more expensive than it would be for fixed-line services," one rural advocate told the publication.
Country Land and Business Association's head of rural business development Charles Trotman said bringing faster broadband to rural areas is the most important thing.
"We don't care how it's done just as long as it's done," he commented.
However, Mr Trotman also warned that high prices could ultimately scupper the government's plans to deliver the most advanced broadband network in Europe.
"It has to be affordable, because if not people simply won't take it up and the infrastructure will be wasted," he explained.
Britain is currently 15th in the European broadband speed rankings, according to figures published by Akamai last month.
The country's average broadband speed has risen 28 per cent in the last year to reach 5Mbps, placing it in 28th place globally.
Akamai's State of the Internet report said The Netherlands currently boasts the best broadband connections in Europe, with an average speed of 8.5Mbps.