Industry group warns on UK's broadband future

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 17 April 2007 07:56

Opinion and Analysis

The objectives of the report are threefold: to raise awareness of the issues related to the deployment of next generation access networks with government, the regulator and industry; to provoke discussion and inform policy development; to suggest a number actions that can move this debate onto the next stage.

The report has added weight because of the broad representation of the BSG. It was established as a cross-sector government advisory group in 2001 following publication by the British Government of an action plan, "UK Online: the Broadband future," which set a goal for the UK "to have the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005."

BSG membership is open to "any organisation with a commercial interest in broadband and related service...[including]... broadband service providers; broadband product suppliers and manufacturers; content developers, content aggregators; broadcasters; rights holders; advertisers; central government departments; local government; representatives from Devolved Administrations and RDAs; consumers and consumer representatives; trade unions and trade associations. It has almost 400 members, spanning all these sectors so its views are unlikely to represent narrow sectoral interests.

In his foreword to the report, BSG chairman, Chip Meek, concludes: "This is the start of a new phase of debate and action on this subject, which is of great importance to UK consumers and businesses, as well as the UK's position in the world economy."

The UK environment is different from Australia and not all the conclusions and recommendations of the report may be applicable her. That statement certainly is. The sad fact is that there is no equivalent body to the BSG with the resources, representation or the will to produce an equivalent examination of these issues for Australia.