Digital Britain Report Is Full Of Uncertainties
The final version of Lord Carter’s, the Communications Minister, Digital Britain report was finally made public yesterday but those who are familiar with the content in the interim version of the report will notice that there is not much difference between the uncertainties of the interim report and the final report.
Most of the emphasis is the same in both versions with the primary content based around the goal of connecting the entire country of Britain to broadband but not too many details about how the UK Government will complete its noble goals of offering access to all UK citizens at speeds of at least 2MB.
The report did include recommendations that mobile broadband spectrum be allocated which delighted Vodafone and O2 as they are overly satisfied with the receipt of 900 Mhz spectrum they were allotted but major mobile carriers Orange and T-Mobile out in the cold until more allocations will be given after the switch to digital to analogue TV is completed.
The Digital Britain report also addressed the problem of how to regulate and control copyright infringement and piracy with additional power placed in the hands of Ofcom to regulate broadband issues. It also included new funds that total up to £200 million towards connecting parts of the UK with broadband that current have substandard broadband quality.
For the most part the report looks positive and if correctly enacted will greatly improve the condition of the broadband access in the UK, but the argument remains that the standard that it set the bar at is too low and there is a lack of clear direction.
