Digital Inclusion
Calling on Govt to lead the way in bridging the gap on Next Generation Access in rural England
Today we're launching 'Mind the Gap: Digital England - a rural perspective', the rural contribution to Lord Carter's Digital Britain report. It includes recommendations to Government to ensure an effective and sustainable communications future for rural England and identifies four key areas that must be tackled as a priority:
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education and lifelong learning
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business development
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social and community cohesion
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equitable access to services
The Prime Minster has welcomed the report as:
"a timely and welcome contribution to the national debate on the future of Digital Britain. Digital technology in rural areas is helping businesses to grow, and is transforming lives, communities and jobs. Access to the best technology available is as essential to rural areas as it is to urban."
“Universal access to broadband is central to government’s plans to deliver services and information, both nationally and locally. We must ensure that everyone is able to benefit from the advantages of new technologies both now and in the future.”
Lord Carter also welcomed the report:
"The CRC’s report rightly highlights the need to ensure rural communities aren't left behind as the rest of the UK enjoys the benefits of digital technologies, both social and economic."
"In the Digital Britain report we have pledged to deliver quality broadband access to every home, every community and every business across the country, by 2012. We have also announced a new fund to help bring Next Generation, super-fast broadband to the third of the country that we know the market won't reach on its own. Together these two firm commitments will help ensure that Digital Britain does not become a two-tier Britain. The Government will do all it can to bridge the access gap for rural areas and we urge communities and industry to join us in that effort."
Broadband is bringing social, economic and cultural benefits to rural people but just as the first digital divide was being addressed, new services and demands are putting increased strain on existing infrastructure.
Rural users are frustrated by the lack of speed and reliability of existing services. Those unable to access broadband are excluded from what, for a large section of the population, are now basic services. Digital technology can also help tackle social and economic disadvantage in rural areas.
We support Government’s commitment to universal service at 2Mbps by 2012, but moves to fund Next Generation Access are also welcome, as we firmly believe that first generation broadband is unlikely to be capable of meeting the needs of a large proportion of rural areas.
Comments
I'm glad your report includes reference to Local Loop Unbundling (LLU), but I think its impact is as important in the short term as higher broadband speeds. LLU is unlikely to reach most rural areas for a long term as a result rural areas will suffer financial disadvantage due to a lack of competition. The cost differences are significant especially to home workers. I would like to see LLU take a much higher profile when rural connectivity is discussed.
When will people in this country wake up and realise that whilst we wade through endless reports and bureaucracy, the rest of Europe is taking action right now. Reason? They all understand the importance of high-speed networks for future innovation, growth and prosperity. We risk being left way behind.
How many BT OpenReach vans do you see everyday? Just what is it that they're actually doing?
There a varity of WISPs supplying a lot of rural areas. The one i work for Attend 2 Ltd supplies most of the south east of england and i disagree with a 'cooperation between mobile operators which currently appears to be problematic'. We use a varity of water towers and private towers, they are always more than happy to take our business!
WISPs already provide a solution to a large part of the UK yet the 'not spots' don't take this into account. We have seen several areas we service labled as such. Not-spots for ADSL yes but for high speed broadband - NO.
Thanks for your post Mandy.
In their Digital Britain report the government pledged to deliver a Universal Broadband service of a minimum 2mps no later than 2012, but there are still questions as to how this will be achieved for rural consumers.
The Business & Enterprise Committee has this week announced an inquiry into broadband speed, which as well as looking at whether the target of 2mps is ambitious enough will also consider how next generation access will be funded, as well as investigating whether companies are delivering the speed of access promised to consumers.
We're working to encourage government to take forward the recomendations in our 'Mind the Gap' report, to ensure equitable access to high quality broadband for all areas.
Thanks for your comment
Hopefully the Business & Enterprise Committee's inquiry into broadband speed, which will look at whether companies are delivering the speed of access promised to consumers, will help make it easier for consumers to work out what speed they'll actually be getting before they sign up for broadband.
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