News

BSG Conference: Quality Time? Meeting consumer expectations for next generation services

The conference was held on 09 September at the Delfina in Southwark, and was supported by Analysys Mason.

In the context of increasing net neutrality policy activity within the UK, the EU, and North America, this conference looked at:

  • Consumer demand for higher-quality internet-based services and applications and the future evolution of these services
  • Technical bottlenecks that get in the way of the delivery of these services to the end-user and potential solutions
  • Commercial challenges and potential solutions to support the delivery of high quality services
  • The regulatory environment required to support the evolution of today’s internet (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

Will a shift to gesture based computing via tablets and apps help get the final third online? A guest blog

On the day the iPad is launched in the UK, a guest blog from Brian Williamson of Plum Consulting considers what impact a shift to this type of device, with simpler, more intuitive interfaces and utilising mobile connectivity, could have on internet adoption.

“A report by Plum Consulting for Vodafone examines internet use and barriers to use, market changes and policy possible approach to get more people online. In terms of use the report finds that education, workforce participation and age are key considerations in explaining internet use.

Older US citizens are significantly more likely to use the internet than those in Korea or Europe, whilst those in Northern European Countries are significantly more likely to use the internet than their Southern European counterparts (consistent with the level of economic development and education at the time they were at school). (more…)

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…)

BSG calls for evidence from industry to revise fibre cost model

BSG is calling for evidence and data from the industry that would assist it in revising the fibre cost model, published in September 2008 as an input to the Caio Review.

BSG wishes to test whether the underlying assumptions and conclusions regarding costs set out in the report are still valid, or whether they should be revised in light of industry developments. This will inform its response to the government’s Next Generation Fund consultation. (more…)

The COTS Project – Progress

A ‘Progress Meeting’, open to all stakeholders, was held. This provided an opportunity for the steering group to discuss their work and progress with industry, and for stakeholders to provide feedback and input. At this meeting, Ofcom and CSMG presented their recently-published report into BtB interfaces in an NGA environment. The minutes and presentations are available below.

Minutes of the progress meeting, 25 January 2010

CSMG for Ofcom – BtB interfaces: Meeting the needs of NGA – full report

Presentation from Antony Walker, BSG and Huw Saunders, Geo/KCOM

Presentation from CSMG & Ofcom – BtB interfaces: Meeting the needs of NGA

 

AT&T propose PSTN phase out

A guest post from Brian Williamson of Plum Consulting.

The June 2008 report by Plum Consulting and the BSG set out a “Framework for evaluating the value of next generation broadband”. One of the six recommendations of the report was that,

“Realising the full value of next generation broadband depends on the extent of transformation of other markets. In considering the private and wider value of next generation broadband, and potential regulatory and public policy barriers to next generation broadband, other platforms and markets should be considered including spectrum, broadcasting, mobile and copper networks.

In particular, the costs and benefits of copper network retirement alongside fibre rollout, and the policy and regulatory environment required, should be considered.??? (more…)

BSG responds to DCMS product placement consultation

The BSG has responded to the DCMS consultation on whether or not to allow product placement on television.

The BSG supports the introduction of product placement in the UK. As traditional ad revenues and business models come under challenge as the result of the convergence of digital media, it is important that the industry can explore the potential commercial benefit of product placement to ensure sustained investment in content.

The BSG recognises the concern that any introduction of product placement does not lead to negative outcomes for consumers. However we believe the protections required of the Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) Directive, which allows the UK to permit product placement for some types of programmes, will be sufficient to ensure that consumers are protected and are armed with the information they need to make informed choices.

BSG response to DCMS consultation on product placement

BSG responds to overhead deployment of telecoms cables consultation

BSG today submitted its response to the government’s consultation on overhead deployment of telecommunications cables. The key points from the response are:

  • Permitting new overhead distribution could have a significant impact on the investment case in some locations; however, it is unlikely to be a panacea for rural deployment.
  • Due to a number of factors, it is unlikely that increased aerial deployment would be beneficial in urban areas; it is likely that the benefit would predominantly be for rural deployments.
  • In terms of the impact on the ‘final third’, indicative analysis suggests that up to 1m homes could be brought into the market-led first two-thirds of homes.
  • Visual amenity is an issue that should be considered; however, government will need to consider the trade-off between improved communications infrastructure and the impact on the visual amenity of a locality.
  • Access to existing infrastructure that can support aerial deployment should also be considered by government as part of this exercise.

BSG response to BIS consultation on overhead deployment of telecoms cables

BIS consultation on overhead deployment of telecoms cables

The COTs Project – Progress

The forum met on 04 December, where the steering group reported back on its thinking to date. The group discussed the long list, presented at the previous steering group, and considered the two requirements documents reflecting the views of service providers and access infrastructure providers. Documentation is below.

The forum agreed that the next step would be for the steering group to consider the requirements of an aggregator, to meet the needs of both ISPs and access infrastructure providers. In addition, the forum agreed that this would be a sensible point for the project to report back to the wider COTS stakeholder community, to gather feedback and comments on the proposed approach.

Minutes of the forum meeting, 04 December 2009

The ‘Long List’

ISP requirements

Access infrastructure provider requirements

Digital Connectivity Forum
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