'More needs to be done' on universal fast broadband
'More needs to be done' on universal fast broadband
By Noel Mellor (Fri, 4th December 2009)
The government needs to set its sights much higher in terms of improving broadband standards across the UK and giving people reliable high-speed connections, it has been asserted.
According to Dame Wendy Hall, professor of computer science at the University of Southampton, the internet is something that is flourishing under the network of consumers, businesses and governments, but more needs to be done to protect its future.
Speaking to delegates at the Digital Media London Technology Network conference on December 2nd 2009, she explained recent plans outlining what needed to be achieved with services by the year 2012 did not go far enough.
Dame Wendy added the Digital Britain report, which was published in June this year, demonstrated a lack of vision on the part of the government, stating that giving the whole of the nation speeds of two megabits per second would not address future technologies like streaming high-definition television content.
"The fact that we're bankrupt and can't afford to put optical fibre anywhere doesn't mean we shouldn't be doing it. We need to think harder about what type of society we're going to have in the age of networks and for sure ours is going to be a backward one if we don't get this right," she warned.
In conclusion, the commentator ended by saying this type of networking was required everywhere and pretending the two megabits per second promise was sufficient was not good enough.
The Digital Britain report also considered the popularity of online retail and how this needed to be supported in years to come.
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