Convergence Conversation

Whilst DCMS, headed up by Jeremy Hunt MP, proclaims its ambitions for the UK to have the best etc

The truth of the matter is on the same webpage linked to above, that the bar is now set so low as to surely consign the UK to the back of the pack:

“90 per cent of homes and businesses having access to superfast broadband and for everyone in the UK to have access to at least 2Mbps”

90%? What about the final 10%, umm 6 Million people!

What is the official definition of Superfast Broadband anyway these days and no mention of a symmetric connection either!

Compounding the market delay and distortion that has existed through inappropriate Government meddling for more than a year already, what emerges from this whole BDUK navel-gazing exercise is a simple assurance that the UK is firmly on Track for the Worst Superfast Broadband in EU. More...

The UK government's stated ambition to offer the best superfast broadband services in Europe have been negatively impacted over the past six months, according to the latest market study by Point Topic.

The deployment of IP next-generation (IP-NGN) broadband technology by BT and alternative network service providers has lagged a long way behind the original plans. Furthermore, the adoption of these services -- where they are available -- has apparently been disappointing.

Research by Point Topic shows that its overall measure of broadband coverage has actually declined -- falling from 55 percent to 53 percent in the reporting period. More...

As previously anticipated, the UK started this week a wholesale review of the legislation in the communications sector. Minister Jeremy Hunt published an open letter seeking replies by 30 June. The letter addresses 3 themes: Growth, innovation and deregulation; A communications … Continue reading →

The European Commission published on 6 April a Communication on policy objectives for the International Telecommunications Union World Radiocommunications Conference 2012 (WRC 12). WRC 12 is the next quadrennial meeting of governments and other stakeholders to coordinate international spectrum policy and to update the Radio Regulations. … Continue reading →

An interesting debate in Westminster instigated by Rory Stewart MP on Rural Broadband contained the following revelation:

“…as my hon. Friend Jesse Norman suggested, instead of the mobile telephone companies paying the Treasury for that spectrum we would end up with the Treasury paying them to take it. It is perfectly possible, as was suggested, that we could make a powerful economic argument to the Treasury on why it might make sense for the Treasury to pay mobile telephone providers to take it, but to do so we would need some very robust figures.”

The logic here is impeccable – and the case for an innovative Big Society approach unmistakable. More...

The Watcher is not a tax lawyer, so (he suspects much like others) he relies on helpful summaries to navigate the impact of yesterday’s budget. Some of his partners spent yesterday live blogging and tweeting about the budget (@olswang, #budget 11). … Continue reading →

The House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts scrutinises the accounts of publicly funded bodies to assess whether those bodies deliver value for money (which it defines as being ‘the optimal use of resources to deliver intended outcomes’). It today … Continue reading →

In a decision dated 21 January, but only released this week, the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg has dismissed Vtesse’s appeal against a decision of the European Commission that rates (a UK land use tax) levied on BT’s UK fibre … Continue reading →