Demand Broadband and the UK Communications Bill

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Demand Broadband and the UK Communications Bill

• Communication Workers Union

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Introduction
Broadband

• Background - facts and figures
• The CWU Campaign
• Political dimension
• UK Communications Bill
• What does this mean for the European Commission ?

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Broadband Technology

• Always on Internet access
• High speeds
• High capacity
• Interaction
• Innovative content and applications

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BSG Definition

• Always on access, at work, at home or on the
  move provided by a range of fixed line, wireless
  and satellite technologies to progressively
  higher bandwidths capable of supporting genuinely
  new and innovative interactive content,
  applications and services and the delivery of
  enhanced public services.

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Why Broadband is Important

• Speed capacity interaction
• Better quality wider range of services
• Effectiveness of businesses
• Empowerment of individuals
• High tech infrastructure to enable quality jobs
  anywhere in the country
• Ability to attract investment
• Regeneration of local communities
• Improve the UKs ability to compete

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Government Targets

• Ensure that everyone who wants it has access to
  the Internet by 2005
• Make all government services available
  electronically by 2005
• Every School connected by 2006
• Connections for every hospital and GP Surgery

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The CWU Broadband Campaign - Aims

• Promote telecoms employment
• Stimulate broadband take-up
• Promote innovative content and applications
• Promote universal broadband access
• Achieve targets for schools, hospitals,
  libraries.
• Deliver cutting edge businesses
• Ensure international competitiveness
• Engage all stakeholders
• Shooting for reality not the sky

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Key Facts - Access

• 71 of the population covered as at 31/3/03 by an
  accessible broadband technology - BTs ADSL
  service or a cable modem service
• 90 anticipated by 30/9/03
• UK Broadband availability lags behind Canada and
  Germany, but is comparable with most of Europe
• BSG ranks the UK 4th in the G7 in terms of
  competitiveness
• However there remains a challenge in rural and
  remote urban areas

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Key Facts - Take-up

• 13 UK households have broadband connections
• 1,770,000 broadband subscribers
• 21 countries above UK on broadband take-up
• 30,000 connections a week
• 54 increase in connections since the beginning
  of the year in 2002.
• 45 UK households connected to Internet
• BT Registration scheme and marketing driving the
  increase

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BT Registration Scheme

• Launched July 2002
• 360,000 Registrations March 2003
• 307 Exchanges reach target
• 59 Exchanges Broadband upgraded
• 1 Exchange conversion a week

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Political Dimension

• High profile educational and awareness campaign -
  including demonstrations
• Partnership projects
• RD into new technologies for remote areas
• Ensure the Regulator promotes widespread
  affordable access and take-up
• Supportive actions by Government as regulator,
  procurer, and facilitator

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Scotland

• Broadband technology is important for Scotlands
  world competitiveness, for tomorrows businesses,
  for tomorrows public services and important in
  helping rural areas overcome the barriers of
  distance Helen Liddell Scottish Secretary (Jan
  2002)

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Wales

• The Welsh Assembly are investing 100million to
  provide high speed broadband access to 67,000
  businesses and 310,000 homes within five years
• The Government are investing a further
  2.67million in broadband initiatives
• The Welsh National Health Service department
  under Project Dawn has all its General Practice
  Surgeries connected

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Northern Ireland

• Pilot site for Exchange Activate
• Aimed at small local communities
• Sponsoring Bodies fund connection
• 30 lines for 3 years
• Omagh District Council Beragh
• Ulster TV Internet

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Regions (Examples of Partnership

• Easynet Project linking schools and community
  learning centres in Darlington
• Connecting Communities competition in the East of
  England
• Cornwall ACT NOW model for boosting demand led
  broadband in non-enabled areas

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Communications Bill - UK

• Super Regulator One Board
• Covers all media, radio and telecommunications
• Media and Cross Media Ownership
• Light Touch Regulation
• Consumer Boards

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CWU Response to the Bill

• Accountability and Remit
• Social Responsibility
• Public Policy Priorities
• Quality Training in the Telecoms Sector

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What Does this mean for the European Commission

• Making the eEurope 2005 happen
• Content of interest and value
• Removal of barriers to broadband

FOR MORE INFO
Email bhealy_at_cwu.org