The Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) will launch a report undertaken by Communications Chambers into the connectivity requirements of small businesses on 2 September.
Today the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), launches the results of a detailed survey into the internet usage of 1000 micro-businesses (those with between 0-9 employees). The survey finds that although 87% of micro-businesses have an internet connection, older businesses – those in operation for more than five years – are less likely to be taking full advantage of the internet in growing their business. (more…)
The Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) will launch the results of a survey into the internet usage of 1000 micro-businesses at an event on the 17 November.
Details:
Monday, 17 November 1400-1600
techUK, 10 St Bride St, London EC4A 4AD
To register please email: [email protected]
Although assertions are often made in the public domain about the bandwidth demands of
SMEs, our Capitalising on Connectivity report exposed a gap in the evidence base on SME internet usage as whole.
We committed to add to this evidence base and the BSG commissioned Comres, the leading market research company, to undertake a telephone based study focusing of 1000 micro-businesses, which make up 95% of all businesses in the UK and account for over 30% of turnover. In addition to data around take-up of superfast broadband products the survey also looks at the use of certain broadband-enabled services and the reasons the businesses do, and do not, utilise them.
Comres, who conducted telephone interviews with companies over the summer, will present their findings before a panel discussion involving operators and other stakeholders on how well understood micro-businesses’ demand for digital connectivity is and how it may change in the future.
This will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by Richard Hooper CBE, which will include representatives from BT, TalkTalk and the CBI.
There will also be a drinks reception afterwards.
Shadow Minister Helen Goodman MP addressed the Broadband Stakeholder Group on Tuesday 16 July 2013 on communications and broadband policy post-2015. Following Labour’s announcement that they would invest £75 million in a new programme that would focus on getting more people online and improving digital skills provision if they won the next election, Helen Goodman MP spoke on her vision for digital inclusion, infrastructure, skills, the role of mobile, and more.
A Storify of the #OneDigitalNation twitter conversation is available here.
The Broadband Stakeholder Group is pleased to be a partner of the Broadband World Forum 2013, being held in Amsterdam. (more…)
The conference was held on 09 September at the Delfina in Southwark, and was supported by Analysys Mason.
In the context of increasing net neutrality policy activity within the UK, the EU, and North America, this conference looked at:
Last Thursday the BSG held a seminar with SamKnows, who were the technical partner on Ofcom’s Broadband Speeds 2008 report.
The seminar produced an interesting debate, with discussions ranging from issues of methodology and technical concerns, to the policy implications of the results generated in the report (James Enck at EuroTelcoblog has given his views on the evening).
One area that was of particular interest was the scatter graph (reproduced in the event handout) plotting line length versus average throughput speed. Although using straight line length (the straight line distance from a home to the exchange) rather than the actual line length, the level of variance in performance between lines of comparable length is pronounced.
We have commented before on this blog how difficult broadband is as a service to market, given the fact that the customer experience is to an extent out of the hands of the service provider.
Getting behind the reasons for this variance should be a central concern of policymakers and the industry alike. The causes of the variance could have important implications for the development of public and regulatory policymaking in this area. We wait to see what Ofcom’s second report on broadband speeds is able to say on this.
Peter Shearman, Policy Manager, BSG
At an event yesterday Communications Minister Stephen Carter discussed the idea of a universal broadband commitment of a 2Mbps service to be available to every household that wants it, by 2012. The commitment could be included in the interim Digital Britain Report, expected to be published at the end of January.
The proposal would see a reform of the existing universal service obligation on BT, and would make use of wireless networks as well as fixed to deliver the service. The idea follows similar recent developments in other markets such as France, Ireland and Finland.
Whilst this is clearly a significant development, many will ask what it means for next generation broadband deployment in the UK? In November last year BSG Chairman Kip Meek outlined the idea of a universal service commitment for broadband in his speech to the BSG Reception. Meek’s idea sought to bring together policy in current and next generation broadband – a universal service for current broadband while encouraging investment in next generation broadband.
If the aims of the digital Britain initiative are to deliver economic as well as social benefits then a coherent approach will be required that addresses both objectives. While Carter referenced the importance of enabling investment in next generation services, it remains unclear, what, if anything, the DBR interim report will say on the matter.
Peter Shearman, Policy Manger, BSG
At the BSG Reception last night BSG Chairman Kip Meek outlined the three requirements he sees to solving next generation broadband in the UK: an explicit vision of a next generation broadband future; leadership from government, Ofcom and others such as the BSG; and both supported by coordinated stakeholder efforts. Setting out his vision of a superfast future, Meek identified the five key obstacles he sees to achieving this, and called for renewed efforts in the months ahead.
In the following Q&A, minister for communications Stephen Carter welcomed the speech, and encouraged all stakeholders to engage “openly, constructively and analytically??? with the Digital Britain Report process. He stated that the biggest challenge facing the Digital Britain Report was getting things done “fast and well???, but that Digital Britain was why he was in post and would receive his full focus.
BSG Chariman Kip Meek’s speech in full
Minister for Communications Stephen Carter speaking at the BSG Reception
On 09 June 2008 the BSG held its 2008 Conference ‘Beyond Pipe Dreams? Prospects for Next Generation Broadband in the UK’.
The conference brought together over 250 delegates from a variety of stakeholders, including representatives from ISPs, content providers, rights holders, consultants, analysts, investors, the regulator, public sector bodies, and the voluntary sector, as well as the Caio review team.
The event produced many lively debates, building on the launch at the conference of two new pieces of research by the BSG:
The presentations from the event can be found below.
BSG Chairman Kip Meek chairs a panel at the BSG Conference
Session 1: How valuable might next generation broadband be for the UK?
Session 2: The investment case for next generation networks
Session 3: Regulating for next generation access
Session 4: What role for the public sector?
