UK broadband target is hopeless

The UK has no hope of meeting its broadband targets, and leading government advisers say only radical action can get us anywhere near our competitors.

Information shown to ministers and leaked to vnunet.com's sister publication Computing reveals how far the UK is from reaching the government's deadline of being the most competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005.

Figures in a report from advisory body the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) show projected domestic broadband penetration of a woeful six per cent by 2005, if the market is left to itself. That means the UK would stay in last place among the leading economically-developed nations.

If the government follows the BSG's advice, that figure will rise to 24 per cent. But even then, the UK would still lag behind key competitors such as the US and Germany.

"If we implement the recommendations of the BSG we will creep above France and Italy but we will still be behind," said a leading member of the BSG.

"The government targets are unattainable and something radical is needed."

Recent figures released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reveal that the UK's broadband penetration stands at 0.28 per cent, 22nd in the world.

Computing last week launched its 'Broadband Britain' campaign calling on the government to take action to support the market, including the implementation of the BSG proposals.

The government is due to respond to the BSG tomorrow.

The campaign has received support from leading business organisations, IT industry bodies, and campaigning and lobby groups, as well as numerous users.