In response to the growing debate around next generation broadband in the UK, the government commissioned Francesco Caio, a former CEO of Cable and Wireless, to undertake an independent review of the barriers to investment in next generation broadband in the UK.

The Review began in February 2008, with its final report published in September 2009. As part of the review, the BSG was commissioned to undertake a cost-modelling exercise for the costs of fibre deployment in the UK. The final report of this process is available on the website - 'The costs of deploying fibre-based next generation broadband access infrastructure'.

The review's final report concluded that there was no evidence for public intervention in the delivery of next generation broadband in the UK, but that the government should remain vigilant, and examine options to reduce the costs of deployment.

The government is currently considering the review's recommendations and will respond to them in due course.

The report's recommendations are summarised below.

• Government should define a vision for next generation broadband and a framework for reaching this vision
• Government should stimulate investment by:
  • Accelerating the release of radio spectrum (with Ofcom)
  • Mandate transparency on network capacity management policies
  • Support a minimum specification for next generation broadband in new build developments
• Government should facilitate investment by:
  • Identifying a specific regulatory implementation path (with Ofcom)
  • Lower the cost of civil infrastructure works through better coordination of street works
  • Relax constraints on overhead deployment
  • Address barriers to alternative ducting
  • Clarify the non-domestic rating applied to fibre
• Government should support new models for investment by:
  • Establishing a support network for local NGA developments
  • Focusing resources on open access networks
• Government should benchmark our broadband progress
  • Including appointing a senior figure responsible for broadband
  • Establishing a structured process to monitor progress, both domestically and against international peers
• Government should attribute roles to Ofcom and the BSG
• Government should instigate an annual event to discuss progress