Britain Promises Broadband for All

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Britain Promises Broadband for All

The interim report on Britain's digital future is out today, and amongst other things, it promises that all homes in the UK will have broadband by 2012.

While the report called for everyone in the UK to have access to a broadband speed of up to two megabits per second (Mbps), a closer examination shows that this is only at points where the total cost is under £3,800, with the householder having to pick up the excess.

The report by Lord Carter has already come under fire from both sides as well as the ISPs (Internet Service Providers), but the report itself is available here [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/29_01_09digital_britain_interimreport.pdf].

Included is Tanya Byron's report on "Safer Children in a Digital World" [http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/byronreview/], which details some of the more controversial methods of tackling "unsafe websites," including a similar idea to the Irish [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/89027-Irish-ISP-Agrees-To-Shut-Down-File-Sharers], although that has already come under fire. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.85459] Her view that retailers who sell to underage gamers should face a prison sentence has been said to be "plain wrong". [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/82807]

Having read through the report this morning, there are a lot of promises but a disturbing lack of concrete ideas, but as Prime Minister Gordon Brown says, "Today we have an interim report from Lord Carter setting out the scale of our ambition to compete in the digital economy and that's a market worth about £50 billion a year."



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[SenseOfTumour]

Everyone in Britain already has access to broadband I thought?

I walk into my local library and its there, ready to use, for free, no need to book a place.

But really tho, I can't imagine it's the most important thing, demanding everyone in the country has it, how about everyone who wants it has it available. May be more sensible.

As for the report on 'safer children', to hell with them, why do we keep having to do everything based on what might happen maybe if a child happens to see stuff not meant for them.

Its quite simple, if your child comes near your computer while you're using it, you poke em in the eye. Or would that be worse than letting them see the screen? You wouldn't believe it if you read the papers. As ever, it seems to be a case of 'I dont want to watch what my kid is doing, then I'll complain about the nanny state when someone else does.'

Just keep the PC that the kid uses in the main room, don't leave em in a bedroom alone with the internet and you'll be fine.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Everyone in Britain already has access to broadband I thought?

Nope, my friend is still on dial-up and he's in the centre of Leicester.

 

[vede]

So everyone will be able to watch the apocalypse on their computers in High-Def!

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

So everyone will be able to watch the apocalypse on their computers in High-Def!

Or they could look out their front window. And given the average UK speed is meant to be 3.6Mbps, it's hardly that much of a challenge, but they do need the ISPs support for it to happen.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Virgin are advertising their brand new 50mb lines, but remember that a lot of the South west, Wales, Scotland and the islands barely have mobile coverage.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

the funny part is the england could easily be able to get broadband to everyone, actually probly fibre to the home, since they are very densely populated

i do love how tech companies always come up with some high price and reasons why they can't do something,they do that here in Canada. tho i do enjoy hearing how "expensive" it is to keep running.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

I kinda meant almost anyone can walk into a library and access broadband internet for free, even if it's not reaching every house yet.

What they shoulda said, is try to make it available to those who want it, shocking as it may be, there's a fair number of people, admittedly mainly in the older generations who don't mind not being online and in fact don't want the complexity of having to learn how to use it and the expense of getting all the equipment.

I also hope they crack down on these 'up to 20/50mb' claims when they're tested and shown to be 1-3mb.

My dad's car can reach speeds over 200mph, if you pushed it off a cliff, doesn't make it F1 material.

Shame there's so much emphasis on faster bigger better, when I believe the majority of people would be happy with a reliable 1-2mb connection at a lower price.

 

[ParkourMcGhee]

the funny part is the england could easily be able to get broadband to everyone, actually probly fibre to the home, since they are very densely populated

i do love how tech companies always come up with some high price and reasons why they can't do something,they do that here in Canada. tho i do enjoy hearing how "expensive" it is to keep running.

That's... You're... Canadians are poopey heads. Sorry about that. In my area internet is really bad and stupidly overpriced. Plus I have a grudge against Virgin since they've hooked up just about every street in my area up with cable but not mine, and there doesn't seem to be any signs of change.

I also hope they crack down on these 'up to 20/50mb' claims when they're tested and shown to be 1-3mb.

Some people are making the effort but not many. ISPs are encouraged to tell people what their true speed will be approximately like, but... well you know. I even had a phone sales representative claiming she could get me the max until I talked to her manager XD that was a funny conversation.