The UK's Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced an independent review "to investigate the path to next generation broadband" as part of its new "action plan for the creative industries".

The plan includes a commitment to take regulatory action on illegal file sharing by 2009, unless industry reaches a voluntary solution first.

Other aspects of the plan include the setting up of 5,000 apprenticeships and an annual creative business conference.

The Government also said it would work with industry successes such as EMI and Aardman Animations to develop five new 'centres of excellence' in creative skills.

It said the plan "recognises the growing success story that is Britain's creative economy and seeks to provide the industries with an unrivalled pool of talent to draw on, and the same formal, structured support associated with other industries."

Business and competitiveness minister Shriti Vadera said: "We must be ready to respond to future technological developments which will place unprecedented challenges for our communications networks over the coming decade."

The UK must not be in a situation where the "creativity and growth of our businesses are stifled by inadequate communications and regulatory frameworks," she added.

The Government said the review will look at barriers to new models of investment in the broadband sector; ways of minimising the cost of private sector investment; the promotion of a "more certain investment environment" and the treatment of new infrastructure options within the non-domestic rating system.

The report will also look at whether the EU and UK statutory framework gives Ofcom the necessary powers to establish a regulatory regime which provides regulatory certainty for investors and sufficiently incentivises new investment in high speed access, it added.

Ofcom will continue to develop their proposals for regulating next generation access under the existing regulatory framework, it added.

Kip Meek, chairman of the Broadband Stakeholder Group said: "This is the right announcement at the right time. The review addresses some of the BSG's central concerns about next generation broadband and we'll be fully engaged to support its work."

On illegal file sharing, the Government said it supports current discussions between internet service providers and rights holders and its "strong preference remains for a voluntary solution".

However, as to date no voluntary agreement has been reached. It added it will "shortly consult on options for a statutory solution, with a view to implementing legislation by April 2009.

"This consultation is in parallel with the voluntary discussions and we will stop the statutory 'clock' if and when a voluntary solution is reached."