Businesses and network operators reacted cautiously
to Lord Carter's interim review on Digital
Britain, the
government's plan to give every household a 2Mbps broadband
connection by 2012.
In the plan, the government has promised to create new
high-quality jobs, deliver high-quality public services and promote
economic growth. It has seven main objectives (see below) and 22
action points that address plans to restructure the entire
communications sector.
This plan is essential because the explosion of information
created and transmitted using digital technologies is disrupting
old business models and offering new ways of doing things.
While welcoming the
obligation on all network operators to provide a broadband
service, businesses say they want more detail on funding and high
upload speeds, and clarity on the new copyright protection
mechanisms.
Kip Meek, chairman of the Broadband Stakeholders Group, which
represents network operators and consumers, says, "Driving take-up
significantly beyond current levels will require government
engagement and effective collaboration across the sector."
Ollie Ross, head of research at The Corporate IT Forum, says the
UK is playing catch-up, with recession and climate change making
the creation of a digital business even more important.
The CBI's deputy director-general, John Cridland, says universal
access is a good thing, but wants talks on how to pay for it.
Large network operators such as Virgin Media and BT are
cautiously complimentary, welcoming Carter's "recognition of the
need to incentivise investment".
Smaller network operators find little to cheer. Aidan Paul, CEO
of Vtesse, a network operator based in Hertford, disputed Carter's
assertion that the rules governing business rates on broadband
fibre do not need changing. Vtesse is arguing in European courts
that the present rates amount to illegal state aid to BT and other
big network operators.
Jonathan England, director of the TFL Group, a
Pembrokeshire-based wireless network operator, says that Cartner
needs to allow wireless into the local loop. "We hope that Lord
Carter concurs that there is more to delivering broadband than
simply copper, fibre and BT, especially in the last mile," he
said.
Piers Daniell, managing director of Fluidata, a small network
firm, is concerned about Carter's inattention to upload speeds.
"For businesses, this is the key deciding factor, so to have a
government report with no reference to this is very poor," he
says.
John Colley, chairman of (ISC)2, an information security
training firm, is alarmed by the lack of attention to internet
security. "Security is not mentioned in any of the five objectives
or in any of the 22 actions," he says, adding, "Government should
have learnt by now how important it is."
For all the hoopla, to some people the plan is technically
unambitious,and appears driven more by the political need to be
seen to be doing something than serious intentions. Discussions on
how best to give effect to Carter's plan are likely to prove
intensive until the summer deadline for his final report.
Recommendations
Digital Britain is the UK government's plan to secure Britain's
place at the forefront of the global digital economy. The interim
report contains 22 recommendations with specific proposals on:
- Next-generation (super-fast) networks
- Universal access to broadband
- The creation of a second public service provider to compete
with the BBC
- The reallocation of radio frequencies
- Switching radio to digital format
- Better protection of digital content rights
- Enhanced digital delivery of public services