The new coalition government is likely to appoint a minister with responsibility for the nation's broadband future, it has been reported today (Tuesday 18th).

Culture minister Ed Vaizey is a strong candidate for the position, which could be announced this week, according to the BBC.

Responsibilities of the new minister will include ensuring the UK meets its targets on achieving greater broadband access and speeds across the country.

Britain's broadband future has recently been called into doubt by a number of industry figures.

Plans to achieve 2Mbps speeds across 90 per cent of the country by 2012 were described as "unambitious" by the Insitute of Scotland chairman Raymond O'Hare in the Scotsman newspaper.

Meanwhile, Conservative plans to roll out fibre-optic broadband across rural areas was criticised by fibre specialist i3 Group.

The new minister will have to come up with plans to extend superfast broadband to the third of the country that looks likely to miss out on current commercial supply.

BT recently announced plans to extend it high-speed broadband coverage to over two-thirds of the UK population by 2015.

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