Carter’s Report Promises Better Broadband

07.08.09 |

The recommendations made by Lord Carter’s Digital Britain report were in contrast to all the anticipation surrounding its release. The report, publicly submitted recently, contained nothing that was not known to people who had even the slightest idea about what was going on. It mostly continues from where the interim report left off earlier this year, emphasizing the need to get the whole country hooked to a decent broadband network, but falls short of mentioning ways of doing this.

The recommendations include proposals for providing more power to communication regulation agency, Ofcom, and also taking strict action against copyright infringement. The report also talks about access to mobile broadband on the Tube. The biggest plan, however, is a major investment of £200 million for better broadband connectivity and also pledging to bring areas not covered by fixed lines by introducing mobile broadband to connect the gaps. For up-to-date and accurate information on your ISP, click compare mobile broadband for provider reviews and news.

A proposal made by Carter’s advisor Kip Meek regarding the allocation of mobile broadband spectrum has also found support. 900 MHz spectrum allotted already to Vodafone and O2 will be left uncontested, which has made them happy. However, Orange and T-Mobile are in the lurch as they wait for the changeover to digital TV, which will free up new spectrum.

The report looks promising overall and is essentially good for British broadband. However, the target of providing just 2Mb broadband speeds in the next three years for the whole country seems too low. Moreover, with no word on how all these targets will be achieved, many people will feel disappointed with the report.