UK aims for the fastest broadband in Europe by 2015

The U.K.'s culture secretary Jeremy Hunt wants Britain to have the fastest broadband in Europe by 2015.

The culture secretary reaffirmed the government's ambition for the U.K. to top the broadband league tables in a matter of years at an event on Monday in Google's London offices, the Guardian reports. The offices are close to Silicon Roundabout -- an area of the city home to a number of technology start-ups.

Hunt told the event:

"To really be the best you need to be the fastest. I am today announcing an ambition to be not just the best overall, but specifically the fastest broadband of any major European country. Getting the plumbing right for our digital economy is not just an advantage to consumers -- it is also essential for our digital and creative industries, all of whom need reliable high-speed networks to develop and export their products as they move large digital files around the world."

Hunt highlighted the music, animation, video game and television industries as examples of sectors that rely on good broadband.

The speech drew criticism from the U.K.'s opposition party. Labour culture spokeswoman Helen Goodman told the Guardian that the plan would mean "millions of people will have to wait at least three more years for a broadband connection" as speed rather than country-wide access would become the priority.

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