It's make or break for broadband

Ex-ICL chief executive Keith Todd is the new chairman of government advisory body the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG).

The group was formed in February last year to collate a report on the state of the UK?s broadband market.

It was published in December and government has pledged action on 14 of its 15 recommendations including using its power as a buyer to drive the market.

After a week in the job, Todd talked exclusively to Computing about where we are with broadband, and where we should be.

Computing: The government?s target is to have the most competitive broadband market in the G8 by 2005. How likely is that?

Todd: This is the critical year, particularly in relation to 2005 deadline. My concern is that at current adoption rate we won?t get to where we want to be by 2005.

I am very clear that to have any impact on the position of the UK by 2005 we have to be able to take action this year or we will time out because the actions will take time to impact on the market?s momentum.

I?d make the case broadband infrastructure and coverage play adoption is at least as important as the solution of the country?s transport issues. The target is nothing more than a milestone ? broadband is critical to the long-term prosperity for the country and is the fundamental underpinning of the information age.

Computing: So what can be done?

Todd: There isn?t one single silver bullet. There will be action needed by all the stake holders. It is important the market leads the way so hardware, service and content providers must get their services and pricing right to help the market develop in the early stages.

On the government side there are three important roles: making the environment right for the market to work, being open to alternative ways of addressing the issue where normal market forces are not working, and using its huge purchasing power to stimulate the market for the purchase of broadband services.

Computing: The BSG published its first report last December with recommendations to government to boost the broadband market. How will the group?s future role build on that basis?

Todd: The group?s first report is a very good basis to build on and the challenge is to take things further and not be satisfied with it.

Five working groups have been formed to take forward the work this year. I?ve put in place a review via the BSG executive team to see where and how to identify the key catalysts that will significantly change the momentum behind adoption of broadband.

I don?t know if the original recommendations will be enough so review is to make sure we?re doing everything we can.

All the main players in government and industry are working well together and recognise more may need to be done.

Computing: Does the group have any actual power or it is a purely advisory role?

Todd: The group?s authority and power comes from the fact it is a group of key stakeholders trying to come together to move things forward.

I am trying to make sure the group will be even more inclusive in the future. I?ve been approaching Internet Service Providers, local and regional government, content providers and consumer groups. It?s important to have very good access to people who want to contribute their views and I want to hear from everyone who has an opinion.

Computing: You?ve said this is the crucial year for broadband Britain. What kind of timescale can we expect from the BSG?

Todd: We expect to produce a report twice yearly at least ? I would like to make it quarterly - on why and where we think changes need to be made.

There will be an annual report as originally planned but we?re also hoping for a chairman?s interim review by June this year based on the findings of the executive group.

Computing: Apart from the executive review and the on-going working groups, what other avenues is the group exploring?

Todd: I?m a strong believer in the need for the business argument in the business context. The case has to be made very clearly in economic terms and one of things we are currently looking at is material evidence supporting the business case for broadband availability.

A lot of people can sell the argument at a high level but the case needs to be made in more detail so the capital markets and the Treasury and the people who look after the money understand the maths behind it. The case needs to be put very clearly and strongly and this is one of activities kicked off since took on chairmanship last week.