NEWS
Universal access to broadband, either though fixed or wireless services, could offer "enormous" benefits for egovernment, a government minister has predicted.
Speaking at a Westminster eForum and Westminster Media Forum Keynote Seminar on Digital Britain in London today, Lord Stephen Carter, the minister for communications, technology and broadcasting, said the communications sector is at a "turning point", adding that there is a growing realisation the sector offers "a rare ray of light in an otherwise rather gloomy economic sky".
"There is a convergence of need and opportunity that calls on government to make its contribution [to digital infrastructure]," Lord Carter said.
"For some next generation fibre is seen as the only answer. For me, I think the reality will be a richer mix, a more dynamic mix of both fixed and wireless provision coupled with a new approach to universality delivered by both current and next generation networks," the minister added.
If the UK has an array of technologies delivering next-gen services, there is an opportunity for the government to change the way it delivers services to the public, he continued.
"We have to ensure that fairness and access for all is more than a soundbite," Lord Carter said, adding: "[Then] we get to a point whereby we can genuinely start writing business plans for the universal delivery of public services through online and digital capabilities and remove the public sector from where it is at the moment - which is trapped between the requirement to provide digital and analogue delivery systems because of the lack of universal participation and take-up."
According to the minister, the potential benefits of universal access for egovernment are "enormous".
Earlier this month the Prime Minister named "digital infrastructure" as a possible area ripe for investment to help the UK through the downturn, with suggestions government spending may be directed towards financing a fibre rollout.
Telcos are already taking steps to fund their own fibre deployments. In July last year, BT announced a £1.5bn plan to bring fibre access to 10 million homes, while Virgin Media recently unveiled a 50Mbps service.
Comments
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1. misceng
Beware local monopolies. My area is served by Virgin (ex Cable & Wireless/NTL ) with fibre to the cabinet. Their service was so bad I got my BT copper line reinstated. I fear that I will never get a fast fibre service because no one will put in more fibre where it already exists. Just as BT has been forced to allow others to sell services over their wires, cable companies should have similar obligations so that customers can have alternatives.
2. Karen Challinor
sadly the delivery of public services via the internet is usually used, not to empower the public with access, but to keep the public at arms length when they get frustrated at not being granted access
for a rather silly example, if your benefit cheque doesn't arrive and it will take six weeks to sort out you are liable to be a bit miffed but there will be no one to complain to, just a form to fill out
universal access is a laudable aim but there will always be those who for some reason or other will slip through the cracks and will not have access so some alternative will always need to be provided
although it will prove to be an excellent way of getting the junior public service employee headcount down
3. Martin
The UK cannot remain a world leader in terms of economic output and services without investment in communications infrastructure.
It is certainly welcome news that Lord Carter infers the Government may re-consider its position and play a financial role in the roll out of the next generation network.
The Government needs to play its part - next to education and healthcare investment - there can't be many other more important projects than ensuring the UK's population has broadband connection and best position the country for competing in the global economy.
The next generation network is not just about saving on call costs with VoIP. It will help the business community to continue to thrive with the provision of more secure and intelligent bandwidth that enables applications like video on demand, energy consumption monitoring, IPTV, VoWiFi and innovative medical devices.