By Mike P
This morning Hotwire and CPR, its sister public affairs firm, launched their latest white paper at a breakfast seminar attended by over 50 clients and friends. The subject of the white paper, Digital Britain, smart technology, stifled access, is one of the hottest topics in the IT world at the moment. The paper took as its starting point some research commissioned by the two agencies which looked at the perceptions of the business world towards the Digital Britain agenda. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the research showed that only 6 per cent of IT and business leaders are extremely confident that politicians can deliver on the Digital Britain Bill.
The future prospects for Britain’s broadband infrastructure don’t seem good, according to the research. The majority of respondents did not feel that any of the main political parties have what it takes to deliver a world leading technology strategy. The consensus, it seems, is that the political approach to the UK’s IT strategy is ‘confused’, ‘uninspired’ and ‘uncertain’.
It’s a sad state of affairs, and one I would have to agree with. The plans outlined by the Digital Britain Bill are timid and confused. The proposed panacea of 2meg access for all falls far short of the broadband aspirations of comparable first world countries and will merely allow us to tread water rather than gain any sort of national competitive advantage.
It is advantageous to compare the efforts of the UK’s politicians to those of Australia. The Government there has just pledged to provide 100meg broadband for 90 per cent of its population by 2017 – the new network, moreover, will be entirely funded by the state. This is a bold strategy that will make Australia one of the leading broadband nations in the world, and they are bound to benefit hugely as a result. The UK needs to aim much higher than it is doing at present and look to publically fund this vital resource. Taking a lesson or two out of the Australians’ book would be a most wise decision at this juncture.
