The Government is set insist that broadband providers collaborate and find innovative low-cost ways to help deliver high-speed internet to every household in Britain to help meet their target of universal and superfast broadband.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “Our broadband network is as fundamental to Britain’s success in the digital era as the railway network was in the industrial age. By the end of this Parliament, this country should boast the best superfast broadband in Europe and be up there with the very best in the world. I will bring together the key industry players who can help deliver this. I now need them to work together on solutions and tell us what we can do to help make this ambition a reality.”
The Governments view is that the market should lead the way in delivering broadband to all, with the Government working with the industry to achieve this, a group set up to deliver the Government’s aims, will be looking at the barriers to providing a basic level of broadband to the mainly rural communities that are not currently connected. The main problem they are facing is cost to set up the infrastructure needed however the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will also publish a discussion document on telecoms companies and other utilities sharing infrastructure to cut the cost of building new networks that are desperately needed.
Mr Hunt added: “There is currently nothing to stop telecoms or utility companies reaching commercial agreements to share their infrastructure, but very few agreements currently exist. Before we embark on legislation or start committing scarce public resources, we need to explore these cost-effective ways of achieving our aims so I want to hear from companies about their proposals and willingness to work towards mutually beneficial commercial arrangements.”