UK set to lead way in digital convergence

The UK is poised to lead the world in the development and deployment of converged digital technology and content within five years, according to IT industry trade body Intellect.

Convergence refers to the growing trend for digital content accessible by multiple devices across multiple platforms, such as TV or mobile phones, driven by growing telecoms infrastructure and consumer appetite for on-demand services.

Intellect’s Capitalising on Convergence report, says the UK is on course for full readiness by 2012, but could accelerate the development in a few key areas.

‘There is a big opportunity for the UK to take advantage of unique strengths, such as our strong creative industry and robust technology infrastructure, both in terms of networks and consumer attitudes,’ Intellect director general John Higgins told Computing.

The three areas identified by the report are regulation, industry and gove rnment.

The creation of  communications regulator Ofcom was a positive step, but some areas of policy still operate in traditional silos, says the report. A more co-ordinated approach is needed to reflect the changing environment.

In industry, there is room for greater co-operation between different sectors in developing new content and provision of services.

At government level, responsibility for infrastructure and media remains spread across two different departments, and lacks a single champion.

‘Government, regulator and industry must converge in step,’ said Higgins.

‘In industry this means improved dialogue across vertical sectors and seizing business opportunities that would not previously have been thought of.

‘In parallel, Ofcom must think about the regulatory implications of, for instance, IP-based television. And we also need to be confident that there is convergent thinking in government.’

The market will continue to move forward and the UK will continue to make progress – the issue is the pace of change, says report author and Intellect director Antony Walker.

‘We are in a competitive position at the moment and if we want to maintain that and become a net producer, rather than a net consumer, we need to accelerate the pace of development in the UK to gain a leadership position by the end of this government term,’ he said.