Snail's pace broadband - is this the future of Digital Britain?

If you are writing on the release of the Digital Britain Report from Lord Carter, please consider the following comments from Richard Heap, Head of Telecoms, at BDO.

Richard Heap, Head of Telecoms, at BDO says: “We were very surprised that the Government is only advocating a broadband network speed of 2Mb/s by 2012.  Given that a number of other ISPs offer speeds of up to 50Mb/s, this is akin to a snail’s pace and lacks ambition,” says Heap. 

“In any case, this nonsensical speed risks being outdated before it is even implemented as speeds of 50Mb/s will be the norm by 2012,” points out Heap.  “The 2Mb/s connection will allow operators to ‘patch’ existing networks and it avoids creating a ‘future proof’ broadband for Britain.  If Britain wants to be seen as a leader in the digital age it will have to come up with something more futuristic than this.”

Saving Channel 4?

“Many predicted the report would advise that Channel 4/Channel 5 merged; however, Lord Carter suggests that the best way of saving Channel 4 would be for it to partner with the BBC’s Worldwide arm.  Yet, the report stopped short of making full recommendations saying it is ‘still currently evaluating a range of options’.  To avoid Channel 4 incurring further losses a decision needs to be made quickly,” says Heap.

Analogue Switch-Off

“Many had raised concerns around a 2017 analogue switch off for radio.  However, the Government appeared to have shied away from such decisions and instead have stuck to the Digital Radio Working Group’s recommendations of establishing a migration plan which focuses on meeting three criteria*.  It is difficult to say when Britain is likely to reach this cut off point, and given many view digital radio as a failure, it would appear as if the Government is trying to force through take up of the digital format,” outlines Heap.
 
ENDS

* 1) 50% of radio listening is digital
  2) DAB coverage is comparable to FM coverage
  3) local DAB reaches 90% of the population and all major roads

For more information, please email Dee Crooks at BDO, or telephone 020 7893 2761/07815 172 051

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