The Government has done exceptionally well by promising that all UK homes should have access to broadband and faster download speeds by 2012. As a blogger and serious internet user, I very much welcome this announcement.
Not surprisingly the Opposition parties have put their usual gloomy spin on the proceedings. According to the BBC website the Conservatives said the report promised “no new action” while the Lib Dems said it was a “complete damp squib”.
The broadband report (an interim report at this stage) by Communications Minister Lord Carter calls for everyone in the UK to have access to a broadband speed of up to two megabits per second (Mbps). This would make internet connections capable of handling much more video and sites that offer greater interactivity. By the time of the final report, the government will know whether internet service providers (ISPs) can build next generation networks themselves or if government help will be needed.
I have been following the issue of broadband and internet access on the Industry, Research and Energy Committee, on which I sit, in the European Parliament. We recently passed a Committee Report calling for broadband provision across the EU, paying special attention to areas, such as those in certain parts of the countryside, where broadband is patchy.
There is a also a particular issue for London and other built up areas. Broadband requires infrastructure, specifically cabling, which can be difficult to install in blocks of flats, especially tower blocks and other difficult to access premises. As a a London representative, I very much hope the Government will take this on board.
Could tower blocks be fitted with secure wireless connections? No cables, and if it’s free anyway, no reason to hack in!
WEP security isn’t good enough for this especially if the tenants use it for nbanking but there are other systems now.