The government is apparently so concerned about being left in the slow lane of the information superhighway that it has appointed a fresh inspection of the path to next-generation broadband, even while the current one is still on the track, writes Ben Fenton .

Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator, is already conducting a consultation on issues such as how the cable and telecoms industries can invest more than £1bn in upgrading the ageing copper-wire infrastructure. Only this will enable the UK to compete with countries such as France and Germany, which are well ahead in the provision of high-speed internet access.