The broadband vision

As someone who spends a lot of his time discussing the importance and value of broadband, in all of its forms, to the economy and wider society I’m struck by how few manage to articulate a worthy vision for the impact of broadband.

A recent example of this was Ofcom’s timid attempt at a vision in its recent superfast broadband consultation (see section four). The Caio review made a good effort with broadband as an ‘essential digital utility’, but still didn’t quite capture it to my mind.

So it was pleasing to read, in an article in the Guardian early last week, that Stephen Carter is able to set out a vision superior to most efforts, referring to broadband as ‘commercially, socially, culturally, economically and politically transforming’.

This is about as good as I have heard, and hopefully bodes well for the future of Digital Britain.

Peter Shearman, Policy Manager, BSG