Posted: 21st Jan, 2009 By: MarkJ
The
Communications Consumer Panel (CCP), an independent telecoms policy advisory body, claims to have mapped a "
surprisingly extensive" and growing network of community-led fast broadband schemes across the UK. Examples include the Digital Region project in South Yorkshire, which aims to connect all households and businesses in the region and bring fast Internet access to at least 500,000 people:
"There are around 40 local broadband schemes," reports author and Panel member Roger Darlington explained. "This is not necessarily a totally comprehensive review, but will certainly surprise many."
"The various schemes are of very different sizes and at very different stages of development, but collectively they show a range of funding and business models, and various technical delivery options.
All this regional and local activity should contribute significantly to the national debate on the timing and form of next generation access roll-out in the UK," Roger Darlington said.
The full 8 page report can be downloaded
HERE (.PDF) and forms a basic summary of all such projects in the UK. Clearly many areas are not willing to wait several years for BTs next-gen network to reach them and have taken matters into their own hands.