ISPreview Survey Finds Consumers Feel UK Government Not Doing Enough to Improve Broadband
The latest ISPreview.co.uk survey has discovered that most UK consumers think that the government's promises to improve the country's broadband access don't go nearly far enough, with 89 Per Cent saying that a minimum internet connection speed of 2Mbps is not enough.
London, United Kingdom, January 10, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The results from 842 respondents to ISPreview.co.uk's latest survey have revealed that a vast majority (92%) of UK internet users are concerned that the government is not doing enough to improve broadband access. However, 73% still support its goal of making a minimum download speed of 2Mbps (Megabits per second) available to everybody by 2015 (Universal Service Commitment), yet 89% felt that the target speed of 2Mbps wouldn't be fast enough.
The Chancellor, George Osborne, confirmed in his recent Spending Review that £530m had already been set aside to help bring faster broadband to the remaining 30% of towns and villages by 2015 (rising to £830m by 2017); locations where Private Sector investment alone would be unlikely to reach (i.e. rural areas). Many of these communities are expected to benefit from newer "super-fast" fibre optic based broadband services, although others will be forced to settle for the USC.
"Clearly an overwhelming majority of people now believe that the government's commitment (USC) to deliver a minimum broadband speed of 2Mbps to everybody is not enough," remarked ISPreview.co.uk's Founder, Mark Jackson. "Indeed in the years to come 2Mbps will quickly begin to feel quite outdated and would not be able to keep up with modern demand. The USC also fails to consider other important aspects, such as upload speed, affordability and flexibility (usage allowances)."
The European Union (EU) is similarly seeking to make "basic broadband" provision compulsory by 2013, with a minimum access speed requirement of 30Mbps coming into force for 2020. By contrast the UK's plan may not be sufficient to meet European standards.
"The current government should still be praised for staying with this issue during such a financially difficult climate. However, other countries are putting 2% of their entire GDP into improving broadband and next to this the UK plan appears to be dangerously underfunded," concluded Jackson.
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The Chancellor, George Osborne, confirmed in his recent Spending Review that £530m had already been set aside to help bring faster broadband to the remaining 30% of towns and villages by 2015 (rising to £830m by 2017); locations where Private Sector investment alone would be unlikely to reach (i.e. rural areas). Many of these communities are expected to benefit from newer "super-fast" fibre optic based broadband services, although others will be forced to settle for the USC.
"Clearly an overwhelming majority of people now believe that the government's commitment (USC) to deliver a minimum broadband speed of 2Mbps to everybody is not enough," remarked ISPreview.co.uk's Founder, Mark Jackson. "Indeed in the years to come 2Mbps will quickly begin to feel quite outdated and would not be able to keep up with modern demand. The USC also fails to consider other important aspects, such as upload speed, affordability and flexibility (usage allowances)."
The European Union (EU) is similarly seeking to make "basic broadband" provision compulsory by 2013, with a minimum access speed requirement of 30Mbps coming into force for 2020. By contrast the UK's plan may not be sufficient to meet European standards.
"The current government should still be praised for staying with this issue during such a financially difficult climate. However, other countries are putting 2% of their entire GDP into improving broadband and next to this the UK plan appears to be dangerously underfunded," concluded Jackson.
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ISPreview.co.uk
Mark Jackson
440120278234
www.ispreview.co.uk
Mark Jackson
440120278234
www.ispreview.co.uk
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