Telecoms regulator Ofcom wants operators like BT and Virgin Media to offer speedier broadband.
For the UK to remain competitive in the industry, our download speed needs to be significantly quicker. Ofcom Chief Executive Ed Richards has called on the UK industry major players to develop a super-fast broadband throughout the country.
He said "Ofcom favours a regulatory environment for the next generation of networks and access that both allows and encourages operators to make risky investments, to innovate for the benefit of consumers and, if the risks pay off, for the benefit of their shareholders too."
Ofcom say they can reassure operators that they will be rewarded for their risky investment in new rather than existing infrastructure - they will allow them a rate of return that makes it worthwhile.
Mr Richards also said there is added pressure on fixed line operators to improve their services. Mobile broadband allows customers to go online via mobile phone networks with laptops and USB modems. As this service becomes more and more popular, fixed line operators will have to step up to keep up.