Next-gen broadband "must be deployed"

The Broadband Stakeholder Group has called on the government to set targets for the deployment of next-generation broadband services.

The group, which advises the government on matters pertaining to broadband and digital convergence, said that uncertainties about the deployment of services supporting at least 20Mbps downstream to permit multiple HDTV streams to be served at one time, and higher upstream speeds to support peer-to-peer file sharing, need to be resolved within two years to avoid damage to the UK's competitiveness.

A specific recommendation is that the government set a target that by 2012, the UK will remain in the upper quartile of nations "in terms of the quality and reach of broadband services." It added that Ofcom should within the next year set out a regulatory framework for next generation access.

The BSG's definition of next generation broadband will partly be met by Virgin Media's plans to roll out 20Mbps services to top-tier subscribers starting in May. The cable operator has also indicated that 50Mbps downstream services are being trialled. BT's 21st Century Network, which will have a phased rollout over the next few years, will support up to 24Mbps downstream. Long-discussed fibre-to-the-home services have yet to be available to UK consumers but could offer downstream speeds close to 100Mbps. One fibre-to-the-home service in America, Verizon's FiOS, already offers 50Mbps downstream in some markets.

"Broadband is key to the UK economy and has a critical impact on many people's daily lives," said BSG chairman Kip Meek. "This is not special pleading on behalf of broadband providers, but a call to policy makers and regulators, as well as commercial participants in the industry to put significant effort into understanding the dynamics of the market. Failure to act on the issue of next generation broadband will be to the detriment of both our economy and our society."