Broadband News

Next generation broadband could be a ‘patchwork’ of networks

Monday, 10 November 2008

By Garnet Roach garnet@consumerchoices.co.uk

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The next generation of broadband networks will be vastly different to the one we currently have according to Francesco Caio, one of the chief Government advisors on super fast broadband.

Speaking at the NextGen 08 conference, Caio said: “Building a network has traditionally been associated with big companies but there is going to be a major shift to local communities being the owners of their own networks and picking the service providers they want to go on it.”

He said that the future would be a “patchwork” of locally-based networks.

Speaking at a Westminster eForum on the same day, Ofcom partner for strategy and market development, Peter Phillips, appeared to second Caio’s view that next generation broadband would be made up of various different networks and technologies.

He noted Virgin Media's (www.VirginMedia.com) upcoming 50Mb launch and BT Broadband's (www.BT.com) trials of fibre to the cabinet in Wales and London, as well as H2O’s plans to deploy fibre in sewers.

He also added that wireless broadband would play a bit role too.

However, Phillips said that Ofcom would leave the pricing of next generation services to the market. “We want the industry to set its own rates of return - a move which we believe will speed up investment in super-fast broadband,” said Ofcom.

Although Ofcom is hoping that ISPs will foot the estimated £5 billion to £28 billion bill, Phillips did say that “any public investment should be targeted to those areas that are going to be left behind by the market”.

Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “Those living in rural areas are less likely to be part of Virgin Media’s 50Mb network - which will cover around half of the UK - or BT’s fibre plans - which with an investment of £1.5 billion will cover around 40 per cent of the country. Local, community-based broadband projects will be a great way of bridging the digital divide.”

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