The BSG (Broadband Stakeholder Group) has warned Ofcom and the government that they must quickly map out a path for next generation broadband or see UK competitiveness fall away as a result.
The BSG report warns that the UK's current and planned broadband infrastructure won't meet the needs of intensive users in the future.
The report says that the government cannot rely on the market to continue to deliver the bandwidth required by content providers. The BSG wants to see broadband services capable of providing more than 20Mbps (megabits per second) downstream capacity – enough to carry multiple HD (high-definition) TV feeds, web browsing and VoIP (voice over IP) services.
The BSG warned that rival countries were well ahead of the UK in planning and building such high-speed capability. It is calling on the government to establish a target to ensure that the UK remains as one of the best broadband-enabled nations by 2012.
The report recommends that regulatory body Ofcom within the next year sets out the principles of its approach to next-generation broadband. The BSG believes this will achieve a balance of investment incentives and competition in the market.
BSG chair Kip Meek said: "If steps are not taken within the next year to prepare for next generation broadband, then we may well find ourselves in a position where it is too late to catch up."
Comments
Mike said: Just being too far from the exchange often makes no differenceMy sevice provider who shal remain nameless on this site but check some of the worst on DSL Zone UK promices me up to 2Mb amp when looking to upgrade I should be able to get around 6MbI am about 150 meters from the exchange but on the service I have now my download speed can drop to below 56Kbps at peak timesSomething really needs to be done but I cant see what the government can doHeres hoping it can improve amp quickly
Dot said: The UK should concentrate on giving all parts of the UK a reasonable broadband speed Im only getting 9Mbs in my part of Devon and the response I get from BT is that I am over 6km from the exchange and that the cable to my village is not of the right material Not much comfort Help those with little or no broadband capability before raising the speeds for those lucky enough to receive reasonable speeds
tomsk said: If the government doesnt invest now in this superb technology then the uks competetors will steal a march on us at who knows what cost
Diana Deeks-Plummer said: I agree with J Cipson below - it would be good if we really did get what we paid for Also I am using VOIP for my phone Vonage and in the beginning I discovered that most ISPs NEVER tell you their UPload speeds and bandwidths - just the DOWNload ones Upload is very important for VOIP 4mgs is okay for the internet and even Skype but it is very dodgy for a telephone conversation if it drops below those speeds
Jim Holder said: If thats the case then the BSG needs to get its head out of its London fundament and take a look at whats not happening across the UK
J Cipson said: I am currently paying for 6 Mbps but measured on the ISPs own Speed-check software it is not often above 4 Mbps and pften below 2 MbpsThis is at busy times and is no doubt a result of excessive loadingIt would be great tto have what we are supposed to get at least
PC Advisor said: Advances have been made over the past five years in terms of providing access to the vast majority of people and in terms of broadband speeds Nonetheless its the BSG that claims Britain is ahead of the curve not PC Advisor
Warmasice said: It is calling on the government to establish a target to ensure that the UK remains as one of the best broadband-enabled nations by 2012-What i thought we were behind most other nations since when did we become the best Increasingly some of the facts on this site are far form accurate