17 Apr 2009
Business secretary Peter Mandelson has hinted that the government may still bankroll next-generation network access for those not able to get new superfast broadband services from suppliers such as BT or Virgin Media.
Speaking at the Digital Britain Forum taking place at the British Library today, Mandelson said: " Government cannot be indifferent to the wider national needs. Can we rest comfortably knowing that only half [of the UK] will have next-generation broadband?"
After the speech he was questioned further about public investment in high-speed broadband services.
"Of course there's a possibility – but not a certainty, due to those who operate above my pay grade. [But] market forces should not be displaced where they can do better job than government. " he said.
In his speech, Mandelson said that broadband would not just underwrite the communications industry, "it will re-define the production and competitiveness of British industry for years to come."
Earlier, prime minister Gordon Brown told delegates that UK citizens had "a universal right to internet access, with universal connectivity a crucial stepping stone to the digital society."
But Lord Carter's interim Digital Britain report defined the speed of this universal access as "up to 2Mbit/s," far behind speeds achievable for the 50 per cent of the UK in the catchment area of BT's and Virgin Media's optical-fibre rollouts.
I feel that we as a nation should look at how other companies operate. We have the availability to have stupid fast internet speeds but all of this is restricted by the providers, BT and Virgin.
BT have a fair use policy that says you cant download more than 5gb in a month otherwise you get charged. Virgin have no fair use policy on the download limits, but do on the speeds you use during the day.
BT give you upto 8mb max, which is a shared line between a number of houses, and Virgin give you a direct line to your property.
However....China gives its people upto 100mbps speeds for free! no limits, no fair use policy.
so in a way, yes, the UK govement should step in, but where? and at what cost to the public?
Why should hard working families give their hard earned money to Virgin or BT and the government give probably for free given its a 'right' internet access??
so then my view is no, so....where do we strike a balance? if they give to one, they need to give to all, if its free, it wont be because we will pay in our tax like everything else...if not, then the government fails to give people their 'right' to the internet...
so........anyone else have an opinion on this?
Posted by: simon price 20 Apr 2009
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