In parallel with the credit crunch, a different dilemma is emerging which affects businesses and consumers alike ­ – the so-called “broadband crunch”. As more of us tap in to video services such as the BBC iPlayer and Channel 4’s 4oD, network traffic has dramatically increased and bandwidth is being devoured more quickly. This puts huge pressure on the broadband infrastructure.

Real speed versus promised speed is a hot topic. A recent study by UK broadband comparison site www.broadband-expert.co.uk revealed that, on average, broadband customers receive just 48 per cent of the advertised download speed. So, the UK’s broadband networks are already failing to fulfil ISPs’ promises ­ – and the situation looks set to get worse. If people received what they thought they were getting, the crunch would come sooner and be far more severe.

Demand is growing not only in terms of the number of lines, but also in ever-increasing bandwidth due to a wider variety of applications, such as IPTV, mobile broadband, fixed line, fixed mobile convergence, voice over IP and Wi-Fi ­ – all adding to the crunch.

Traditional copper infrastructure, the backbone of DSL broadband services, is failing to keep up with demand and even where there is good availability, quality is variable. Provisioning of fibre seems to be the only answer for high capacity, but rollout is slow and expensive.

The broadband crunch will happen if we remain fixated about access speeds and ignore the core. After all, the access technology will work at high speed, but it is only when all these feeds are aggregated to be transported over the core network that the slowdown happens.

Backhaul ­ – which sits between the access points and the operator’s core networks ­ – must be increased to fulfil broadband requirements. This can be achieved by installing managed wireless networks, which incorporate application control.

Wireless services do not suffer the same problems as laying fibre or copper can at present ­ – they can be rolled out faster and redeployed easily as traffic patterns change.

The availability figures for copper and fibre service delivery can only be described as “best efforts”, whereas a fully managed wireless service can offer up to 99.999 per cent availability.

Wireless is increasingly associated with mobility, liberating the user and offering ubiquitous coverage, which means a more compelling user experience and improved productivity.

Wireless service delivery represents the best way forward for increased bandwidth and broadband speeds, and will create options for operators in both the access and core layers.

It is suited to high-capacity backbone networks, not just access. The crunch can be avoided if networks are sized and designed correctly. And with the UK already behind France and Sweden in Europe’s next-generation race, there is no time like the present to bring us up to speed.

Kenny Kamal is a BCS contributor and chief technology officer of MLL Telecom