Pushing for Universal Broadband Coverage: What do we mean and how do we get there?
On Monday 14 March, the Broadband Stakeholder Group hosted an event to discuss the Government’s intention to make sure that “every home and business can have access to fast broadband by the end of this Parliament???. The event explored how any target for universal coverage should be framed, the actions needed to meet that target and what lessons can be learned from other countries.
The event brought together industry and policy makers to discuss how best to facilitate coverage to the areas which are by definition the least commercially viable, with the debate including issues such as public funding, State Aid, community-led scheme, debt-financing and the creation of a Universal Service Obligation.
Speakers’ presentations are available below:
- Rob Kenny, Communications Chambers – Bandwidth requirements and defining the problem
- Mani Manimohan, GSMA – International Perspectives of Universal Service Funds
- Garry Miller, BT – USO, issues to consider
Following the event, Government launched on 23 March a consultation on a Universal Service Obligation for broadband. Setting a USO in the UK raises many challenges for the industry and the BSG will continue to remain heavily engaged in this debate.
Watch this space for future events and workshops.
