BSG Reports

BSG Publishes New Model on Small Businesses’ Connectivity Requirements

BSG calls for continued focus on reducing costs to allow superfast connectivity to be made available to all business premises as quickly as possible

 

2nd September 2015. The Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), the Government’s leading advisory group on broadband, today published a report on the current and future connectivity requirements of small businesses. The research found that whilst median downstream demand for small business premises will rise from 5Mbit/s in 2015 to 8.1Mbit/s in 2025 demand for the 95th percentile will rise from 12.9 Mbit/s to 41.1 Mbit/s.

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Review launched into UK’s Open Internet Code

Broadband Stakeholder Group commissions independent consultancy to assess effectiveness and recommend future developments

The Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), the Government’s leading advisory group on broadband, is launching a review into the UK’s industry led approach to the Open Internet. The review aims to assess the current structure’s effectiveness, its future under the EU’s Connected Continent Regulation and what improvements can be made to the benefit of consumers and content and service providers.

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BSG launches results of survey into broadband usage amongst 1000 micro-businesses

Today the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), launches the results of a detailed survey into the internet usage of 1000 micro-businesses (those with between 0-9 employees). The survey finds that although 87% of micro-businesses have an internet connection, older businesses – those in operation for more than five years – are less likely to be taking full advantage of the internet in growing their business. (more…)

BSG to launch report into broadband usage amongst 1000 micro-businesses.

The Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) will launch the results of a survey into the internet usage of 1000 micro-businesses at an event on the 17 November.

Details:

Monday, 17 November 1400-1600

techUK, 10 St Bride St, London EC4A 4AD

To register please email: [email protected]

Although assertions are often made in the public domain about the bandwidth demands of
SMEs, our Capitalising on Connectivity report exposed a gap in the evidence base on SME internet usage as whole.

We committed to add to this evidence base and the BSG commissioned Comres, the leading market research company, to undertake a telephone based study focusing of 1000 micro-businesses, which make up 95% of all businesses in the UK and account for over 30% of turnover. In addition to data around take-up of superfast broadband products the survey also looks at the use of certain broadband-enabled services and the reasons the businesses do, and do not, utilise them.

Comres, who conducted telephone interviews with companies over the summer, will present their findings before a panel discussion involving operators and other stakeholders on how well understood micro-businesses’ demand for digital connectivity is and how it may change in the future.

This will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by Richard Hooper CBE, which will include representatives from BT, TalkTalk and the CBI.

There will also be a drinks reception afterwards.

 

BSG publishes report into Out-of-home internet use

BSG publishes new report on the future of mobile and public-WiFi usage

Today the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), who are the Government’s leading advisory group on broadband, published a report examining the trends and drivers of out-of-home internet usage, how that usage is likely to grow in the future and what needs to be done to meet that growth. (more…)

New BSG report reveals SMEs are not capitalising on potential of broadband and technology

A new report published today by the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) identifies that SMEs are not yet unlocking the commercial potential of online activity and new technologies.

The report entitled Capitalising on Connectivity: Realising the benefits of broadband for UK Small and Medium Sized Enterprises identifies that despite estimates that increasing the digital capabilities of the UK’s SMEs can unlock economic returns of £18.8 billion (ref 1) evidence tells us that SMEs are not capitalising as best they might on this lever for economic growth (ref 2).

This report considers current data on SME engagement with connectivity, policy initiatives to support SME use of broadband and technology, alongside new BSG research.

It makes five recommendations regarding how to better understand SME use of technology and incentivise further take-up and exploitation of connectivity: (more…)

BSG publishes new model for analysing domestic demand for bandwidth

Today the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) published a report outlining a new way for measuring and forecasting demand for bandwidth in UK homes. The group called for greater policy attention to be given to how demand relates to infrastructure provision.

Pamela Learmonth, CEO of the BSG said, “Despite global interest in whether broadband infrastructure is currently meeting demand and will continue to do so, there is a lack of evidence and methodology available to inform this critical question. This was our key motivation for commissioning new research in this area and this study presents a technology-neutral approach to forecasting demand, rooted in the applications consumers want to access.???

The model for forecasting bandwidth demand, used in the BSG’s report, combines the usage profiles of various applications with the usage of profiles of individuals.  These individual profiles are then combined into various household profiles. 156 household profiles are modelled in the report, based on demographics, intensity of use and TV type. The household profiles have also been combined to create a picture of national demand. (more…)

Demand for superfast broadband in the UK: a solid start

11 October 2012

Today the UK’s leading broadband advisory body, the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) publishes a report that argues that initial demand for superfast broadband in the UK gives cause for optimism and confidence.

The study brings together public data on superfast broadband demand across various markets and probes headline figures to more fully understand actual consumer willingness to pay for superfast services.  Looking at the data from this new perspective, the report argues that, on the international stage: (more…)

ISPs launch Open Internet Code of Practice

Update, December 2014:

In the last quarter of 2014, EE, Vodafone and Virgin agreed to become signatories to the Open Internet Code. This is reflected in the list of signatories and contact details in Annex 1.

The updated version of the code can be found at: BSG – Open Internet Code of Practice amended November 2014.

Update, June 2013:

In July 2012, the Open Internet Code was published.  The full press release relating to this launch is set out below.

In May 2013 this code was amended to:

  • Clarify that signatories would not be infringing the code if they deployed content filtering or made available content filtering tools where appropriate for public wi-fi access
  • Publish details of how the voluntary system in support of commitment 2, relating to negative discrimination would operate

This updated code can be accessed here.

 

Original post:

Today leading internet service providers (ISPs) are signing a voluntary code of practice in support of the open internet.

The code commits ISPs to the provision of full and open internet access products and confirms that traffic management practices will not be used to target and degrade the services of a competitor.

This initiative builds on the transparency code of practice published in 2011 which ensures that clear, understandable and comparable information on traffic management practices is available to consumers. (more…)

Broadband providers launch new traffic management transparency code

New initiative will help consumers and policy makers make informed choices

Update, June 2013:

In March 2011, the BSG published, on behalf of the signatory ISPs, a code of practice on traffic management transparency.  The code can be downloaded here.

The press release accompanying its launch is set out below, explaining the commitment contained in the code.  In accordance with the code signatory ISPs subsequently published Key Facts Indicators in relation to their traffic management policies. Hyperlinks to this information from all signatory ISPs can be found here.

Please note that shortly after the issue of the below press release, EE signed up to the code in March 2011.

The latest version of the code, issued in May 2013, reflects the additional and subsequent signatories of the code: BE, giffgaff, KCOM, PlusNet and Tesco Mobile.

 

Orginal post:

BSkyB, BT, O2, TalkTalk, Three, Virgin Media and Vodafone will today sign up to a new voluntary commitment to provide better and more easily comparable information to consumers about traffic management. Together these companies account for 90% of all fixed-line broadband customers and 60% of all mobile customers in the UK. (more…)

New study highlights potential of wireless and satellite to deliver next generation broadband

The Broadband Stakeholder Group published a new study today by Analysys Mason on the costs and capabilities of wireless and satellite technologies.

The report provides a snapshot view looking forward to 2016 and finds that:

  • Terrestrial wireless can provide a cost effective alternative to fibre in some rural areas, but would require more masts to be built and the use of external antennas on residential buildings
  • Satellite will provide an effective solution for delivering next generation broadband in the hardest to reach locations
  • The release of more spectrum would further reduce the cost and increase the capability of wireless and satellite solutions. (more…)

BSG Position Paper on government intervention in NGA released

BSG has released a new position paper, ‘approach to government intervention in the deployment of next generation broadband’.

The paper provides a view on how the new coalition government should think about intervention in the deployment of NGA in the UK. There are many uncertainties and unknowns in the debate, and as the new government develops its broadband policy, it is important that the issues raised in this paper are considered and addressed should the government decide to intervene.

The paper also incorporates BSG’s response to the previous government’s next generation fund consultation, and its review of the fibre cost model.

Download BSG position paper

BIS Consultation on proposals for a Next Generation Fund

BSG and Value Partners publish new White Paper on Broadband Infrastructure

In the debate over the capability of broadband networks, the voice of companies and organisations that offer services and applications over the internet has been lost.

To address this, the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) and Value Partners Management Consulting today launch a White Paper, Broadband Infrastructure: The Service and Application Providers’ View.

This White Paper provides insight into what companies and organisations that offer services and applications over the internet really think about the UK’s broadband infrastructure today and how it might evolve in the future. (more…)