Broadband / location = Mbps

The BBC today made public results following broadband speed tests across the UK. After the recent Ofcom survey showing that rural areas achieved higher levels of broadband in homes than towns, the new BBC survey shows that towns actually receive much faster broadband speeds. The conclusion then that the UK’s geographical digital divide was closed may have been given too soon.

With average speeds across the UK achieving 3.2 Mbps, the UK’s status as a broadband world leader is slipping. Within the UK a stark difference in speeds achievable is present. Whilst Londoners can achieve average speeds of 4.5 Mega bytes per second (Mbps), those in Northern Ireland are only able to reach a speed of 2.3 Mbps. Scotland and Wales faired little better, achieving 2.9Mbps and 2.6Mbps respectively.

The BBC report evidently highlights the continuing geographical digital divide in the UK. The reason behind this also highlights the continuing problems of achieving Next Generation Broadband. Broadband speeds achievable are reliant on a number of factors, including your geographical closeness to a hub, i.e. how far down the telephone line you are. Access to cable is then extremely important, as is the type of cable actually in place.

It is evident given the geographical division of speed, and increasing appetite for faster service speeds, that the current copper wire will need to be replaced with fibre optic cable at some point. Whilst this is an expensive procedure, it is an extremely important one, and will help to deliver greater speeds accross the country. The main obstacle to Next Generation Broadband is indecision over how its installation (whether copper or fibre optic) will be paid for. However, with broadband currently underpinning the UK economy, Next Generation Broadband is seen as a key enabler of our future economy.

The BBC report then adds weighty statistics to the increasingly heavy argument for greater broadband speeds throughout the UK.