Broadband have-nots to raise a political stink

NEWS People who are trapped on the wrong side of the broadband divide are going to put increasing amounts of pressure on politicians until the issue is addressed, the telecoms industry was warned on Thursday.

Antony Walker, chief executive of the Broadband Stakeholder Group, told the Wi-Fi and 3G Summit in London that companies and the government would be mistaken to underestimate the voice of the minority. "The digital divide is a significant political issue. People who can't get broadband will be very vocal until they get it," said Walker.

Several MPs have recently admitted that their postbags are groaning with letters from constituents angry that they can't get broadband.

Currently, about 85 percent of the population is covered by BT's ADSL network. Some people who can't get ADSL can get cable broadband, and community networks are also helping to close the gap. BT recently set another large swathe of broadband trigger levels. If all the telco's triggers were hit, it would take ADSL coverage to 99 percent of homes and businesses and leave just 600 local exchanges without broadband. This announcement virtually coincided with a speech from e-commerce minister Stephen Timms that called for broadband availability for all communities by the end of 2005.

Walker welcomed Timms's rallying cry, but admitted some questions remained unanswered. "We're still trying to work out what the definition of a community is, but it shows there is a desire within government to push broadband rollout," he said.

Walker also urged the government to pay greater attention to those in the UK who aren't showing interest in getting broadband, as well as those that want it and can't get it -- warning that the government's ambition of offering improved public services via the Internet could flounder unless broadband take-up continued to boom.

Walker cited recent research from the Oxford Internet Institute that found that 11 percent of people are already on broadband, with 24 percent planning to get it within the next year. This left 24 percent of Internet users who were not thinking of upgrading to a faster connection, and 41 percent of those surveyed who weren't online at all.

"This shows that 35 percent of people either already have broadband or can see a case for getting it, but that 65 percent don't understand what we're talking about or don't see how it would be good for them," Walker said.

Walker said that if this majority aren't attracted, it is hard to see how the government's goal of offering better public services online can be realised.

Talkback

If the copper wire from the exchange is greater than 4 miles you cant get Broadband
What percentage of people does this represent ?
I live 3.5 miles from the center of Maidenhead
and there is no way that I can get connected because the line does not take the path of the proverbial crow .

16 Jan 04 17:14 Reply

I too am suspicious about why no-one is keen to reveal this figure. My exchange has been enabled for about 2 years but BT are keeping very quiet as to how many people are too far away from the exchange.

26 Jan 04 13:39 Reply

BT will not even give me a date in the future as to when i can get broadband and yet people are getting this service two roads away from me

8 Mar 04 23:02 Reply

I was told that i could have broadband by one i.s.p 5 monthes ago i went and had the modem of them the lot, 14 days later still not connected and money went from my bank.that was the end of them.I am now trying again with another i.s.p. 8 days in and still not connected.

2 Nov 04 22:23 Reply

In answer to Dave roberts "BT wont give me a date.
I find myself in exactly the same situation
People all around me are getting on broadband but they keep telling me there "IS A CAPACITY PROBLEM"
I think its a LINE problem but they wont investigate or admit it.
Ive tried everything but complaints go unanswered. The Lies,Promises and different excuses I have got are unbelievable I just keep hitting a brick wall.
Even OFFCOM cant or wont help.
ANY IDEAS anyone.
Email me (Dial up smile) mail@blinley.freeserve.co.uk

6 Dec 05 13:58 Reply

BT are quick to invest in getting faster broadband to those who already have it.. but aren't interested in upgrading/rerouting lines to those of us who fall to far away from the exchanges to receive it. It seems a case of the 'haves' having more and bugger the rest of us.... Incidentely, I'm only 4 miles from the exchange by road and can't get it because the line apparentely goes off in the other direction before coming our way.

24 Mar 06 18:58 Reply

Well our exchange is enabled but still no ADSL access for us at all!!!
BT seem to be very keen to say they have all these exchanges ADSL enable but don't care a damn about whether the people have a phone line capable of using the service. Then they don't want to know at all when asked if they will upgrade the line. All they care about is making out they have the country's ADSL coverage nearly complete.
The sad fact is that alot of their customers will still not be able to use the service at all and BT just do not care!!!

12 May 06 20:25 Reply

12 May 06 20:42 Reply