Britain's comparatively slow broadband speeds are threatening
business efficiency, the
Communications
Management Association (CMA) has warned.
The CMA says a survey of 155 firms showed a lack of provision to
meet the predicted demands for broadband would frustrate companies'
e-commerce operations.
More than a third of UK businesses predict they will need speeds
of 100mbps to be able to meet future demand for next generation
internet technology, according to the CMA's Next Generation Access
report.
The CMA is renewing its call for the government to create a
national broadband strategy that anticipates the massive rise in
demand for next generation access (NGA) to the internet over the
next 12 to 24 months.
David Harrington, CMA director of regulatory affairs, said, "The
gap between government rhetoric and formulation of policy appears
to be as wide as ever.
"Back in April last year, we warned there was a limited window
of opportunity over the next 12 to 24 months to develop and
implement a concerted and innovative approach to regulation and
policy making, that would lead to a market-led transition to next
generation broadband."
He said, "Fourteen months on, there is little sign of either a
concerted or innovative approach to regulation and policy-making,
which the government acknowledged as recently as last September as
being necessary."
The survey, compiled in association with regulator Ofcom and BT
Openreach, reveals that at least 57% of businesses questioned want
10 Mbps or higher for their core business needs.
More than one in four companies would be willing to pay more for
NGA. However, nearly half would not.
Ofcom recently outlined plans to get the main broadband
providers together to discuss the wider roll-out of faster fibre
networks to consumers and businesses.
But no timeline has been outlined for widespread fibre network
provision.
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