Broadband News

Broadband services in the UK are severely lacking behind worldwide counterparts and huge investment is needed according to a report by the BSG (Broadband Stakeholder Group).

The report insinuates that the British government needs to take action to ensure that broadband services in the UK meet future needs, with investment in fibre optic and wireless systems the priority. Without this costly investment in networks the UK could suffer major economical and social setbacks.

The BSG were quick to merit the success of BT in the UK market, by helping make the UK the top G7 country for narrow-band availability. But the group feels now is the time to invest more rather than sit back and enjoy their achievements.

The group believes that UK broadband speeds need to improve by 10 times the current average to be able to compete with other countries. Even though speeds have increased rapidly to average 2Mb - 500 times faster than dial-up - this does not compare with cities such as Hong Kong and Seoul where broadband speeds of 100Mb are not uncommon.

For the UK to be able to compete with other country’s broadband technology, serious investment needs to be made within the next 12-24 months, however with ISP competition so high; it is unlikely that any current provider will open their cheque books to improve the ADSL or cable infrastructure dramatically.

While commenting on required investments needed in broadband, Kip Meek, the chairman of BSG has said “Every increase in internet speed has produced economic benefits… This technology obviously affects the telecommunications, media and creative industries, but it also affects every aspect of society - things like banking and healthcare.”

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