Posted: 11th Nov, 2005 By: MarkJ
The Access to Broadband Campaign has, following its eBay antics, stepped up promotion of their forthcoming "
The End Game for Broadband Britain" conference on November 22nd, CityPoint, London. ABC is correctly pushing Fibre technology to the forefront:
The Access to Broadband Campaign believes that until everyone in the UK can access and use true broadband - the job is not done. At the end of 2005 there are still businesses and citizens unable to get even a basic service over ADSL -1 (512kbps) service let alone ADSL2+ or symmetrical services. But there's a much bigger future than ADSL can provide. We need to keep the pressure on and continue to lobby for ubiquitous, affordable and real broadband access across the UK.
The risks of complacency and the 'job done - don't worry attitude' are
. A widening of the digital divide in the UK
. The loss of UK and EU market share in the global knowledge economy
. Jobs and businesses 'migrating' to economies with better, faster and cheaper infrastructures
. Innovation and creativity stymied
Come and hear more about the strategies we need; Fibre To The Home and FTTx, the business case for true broadband, the technologies to deliver, case studies, best practice, dig where you live, applications and services, plus have the chance to contribute to shaping EU Policy - see http://www.BroadbandEndGame.com
"We want everyone to have the opportunity to become digital citizens and to contribute to the economic growth that true broadband has been shown to stimulate elsewhere," says Lindsey Annison, co-founder of ABC. "The public sector can work with both industry and consumers to ensure that the UK is a strong contender in the race. That is just not possible over the copper network, even with newer technologies such as ADSL2+. Fibre and fiwi (fibre-wireless mix) are the end game, and this nation needs to remove the barriers and light the fibre".