The Labour Party aims to improve access to and quality of full-fiber coverage by removing private companies from the picture. Party leaders suggested that their plan could nationalize the broadband industry, including smaller, alternative broadband networks such as Virgin Media's cable network, which might otherwise be doomed in competing with a free public service.
No matter which party gains power and attempts to see its plan through, the UK looks primed to award a higher number of contracts for the full-fiber buildout. The UK has a significant endeavor ahead, as less than 10% of the UK can connect to full-fiber broadband, compared with 97% in Japan and around 75% in Spain, according to the Financial Times.
This gap presents a major opportunity for telecom hardware manufacturers, no matter which party gains power. Even the seemingly defunct 2033 broadband plan — which was less ambitious than either of the contemporary proposals — estimated nationwide full-fiber rollout required a minimum of £3 billion to support commercial investment,