Picture of sparks
Broadband is key to UK economy

UK broadband needs help

Next-generation network infrastructure needs government targets and updated regulation to compete globally

Written by Computing staff

The government must take action to ensure the UK's high-speed communications infrastructure meets future needs, says the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG).
Next-generation networks are critical to economic competitiveness but there is little prospect of the necessary upgrades being delivered by the current market structure, the BSG annual report being published later today will say.

Recommendations will include government targets and an updated regulatory structure.

BSG chairman Kip Meek said: 'Broadband is key to the UK economy and has a critical impact on many people's daily lives.

'We have a limited window of opportunity: if steps are not taken now to prepare for next generation broadband, then we may well find ourselves in a position where it is too late to catch up.

'Failure to act on the issue of next generation broadband will be to the detriment of both our economy and our society,' he said.

Further reading

Broadband fling for Highlands

Rural Scotland to get broadband access   More...

Small businesses catch up in IT stakes

Fastest growth in IT use has been among smaller businesses, says ONS   More...

Cumbria grabs a broadband bargain

Consortium cuts prices to schools and businesses   More...

Growth of UK broadband connections slows

Annual high speed link growth forced down by providers' inability to meet demand   More...

Related articles

BT promises fibre to 10 million UK homes

Telco investing heavily in optical cable   More...

UK falling behind on broadband

Government may intervene, says competitiveness minister   More...

More network cables cut in Middle East

Mysterious outages set conspiracy theorists a-buzz   More...

BSkyB chairman slams BBC over iPlayer

James Murdoch lashes out at 'abrogation of responsibility'   More...

Do you agree?

Advertisement

Job of the week

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Hiring now on ComputingCareers:

Related IT jobs

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Advertisement

Watch

25 Jul 2008

7.85 MBPodcast Special: Views from the Valley More...

24 Jul 2008

3.68 MBSpammer jailed, Esquire e-cover, and network passwords More...

23 Jul 2008

2.99 MBSmall time security, official 'spying' requests and a spammer jail break More...

Poll

EUROPEAN E-COMMERCE

EUROPEAN E-COMMERCE

Are you happy making an online purchase from another European country?

Previous poll results

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Enter email address to edit your newsletter preferences

Spotlight

Credit card transaction

Credit card fraud rampant in the UK

Attempted frauds go unreported and ignored, analysts claim   More...

Intel

Intel rolls out new embedded line-up

System-on-a-chip offerings promise footprint and power saving   More...

Advertisement

Network cables

Tech giants collaborate on wireless HD

Another attempt at cable-free transmission in the home   More...

iPhone fever fills AT&T coffers

US provider cashes in on Apple smartphone   More...

Advertisement