Forgotten communities should get faster broadband, say advisors
Wednesday 03 September 2008
Ofcom advisory group, Consumer Panel has commented that communities who have been bypassed by broadband should be the first to be offered even faster services.
Speaking about excluded areas of the UK Consumer Panel chair Anna Bradley expressed her opinion that they should 'leapfrog' to next generation access. This should take place despite the fact that these areas would be the least cost-effect for these services in order to stop an ever-widening 'digital divide'.
"If we are imaginative and use a mix of private and public business models, we could provide a way for consumers who are excluded from first generation broadband to leapfrog straight to the next generation," said Bradley.
With super-fast broadband installed communities could benefit from a whole range of enhanced public services including Telemedicine:
"Decisions need to be informed by a proper sense of the value of next generation networks, not just to companies and consumers, but to the economy and society as a whole," she said.
Currently, according to the Office of National Statistics, 35% of UK households do not have internet access.
Source: BBC
