Government lays out Digital Britain proposals

Interim report intended to provide the blueprint for a digital economy

The Digital Britain report outlines government plans for the UK's digital transformation

Lord Carter, the communications minister, today unwrapped an interim Digital Britain report (PDF), which is to become the blueprint for taking the UK to the next stage of the information age.

The report presents a 22-point action plan outlining the government's plans for the UK's digital transformation, which will include the upgrading and modernising of all wired, wireless and broadband infrastructure.

Prime minister Gordon Brown told the New Local Government Network conference in London that the report would set out the path for the future of the whole British economy.

"Our digital networks will be the backbone of our economy in the decades ahead. We know that every aspect of our lives - every school, every hospital, every workplace and even every home - will depend on the services the digital network provides," he said.

The report committed to making broadband available to every house in Britain by 2012. But it was less prescriptive about how next-generation superfast broadband networks would be deployed.

The Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (Berr) will establish a government-led strategy group to assess the "necessary demand-side, supply-side and regulatory measures" to underpin current investment plans, which will see suppliers foot the bill for building the next-generation networks.

Rob Bamforth, principal analyst for communication, collaboration and convergence at Quocirca, said that it would be better for the government to show some "wired-up thinking".

"Local government, healthcare, education and 'blue lamp' emergency service organisations could give an idea of demand for services outside those needed by the consumer," he said.

Becta chief executive Stephen Crowne agreed that broadband must play a central role in education and training.

"We firmly believe that reliable, widespread broadband access is an essential tool that will help equip learners with the training and skills required for a truly 'next generation' workforce," he said.

Berr will be seeking feedback on the report. The deadline for comment is 12 March 2009, and the full report is expected to be published in April.