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London, 23 November 2005

BSG Chairman to take Ofcom Role

Philip Graf CBE has been appointed as the new Deputy Chairman of Ofcom, taking effect from January 1st 2006. He will therefore step down from his role as Chairman of the Broadband Stakeholder Group at the end of the year.

Commenting on his new appointment, Philip Graf CBE said “I have enjoyed chairing the BSG over the last year. I am sure the insights I have gained will prove invaluable in my new role.” He added: “The sector is changing rapidly; and it is more important than ever for industry to engage with policy makers and regulators. The BSG provides a unique forum for that dialogue and will have my continued support in my new role at Ofcom.”

Antony Walker, CEO of the BSG said, “I’d like to thank Philip for the fantastic contribution he has made as Chairman of the BSG over the last year. With his background in the media, Philip brought unrivalled expertise to the BSG and helped shift the debate towards the exploitation of broadband by the public and private sectors and the development of new content, services and applications. It has been a pleasure working with him and I’d like to wish him every success in his new role.???

The BSG will to appoint a new Chairman early in the New Year.

November: Telecomms

One of a series of five thought-provoking seminars hosted by Intellect and the WDA (Welsh Development Agency):

Thursday 17 November 2005 – TELECOMS

From 17:00 – 20:00 hrs @ Intellect Conference Suite, Russell Square House 10-12 Russell Square, London WC1B 5EE
The ‘After 5’ seminar series looks at topical issues relating to: outsourcing; telecoms; data security; GRID computing and telematics – highlighting different perspectives on offer to nimble technology companies.

The Speakers for this Thursday 17 November will be:

Andy Williamson, CTO, Broadband Wales and Ann Benyon, Director, BT Wales

The telecoms industry is responding to demand for broader-band services, but what happens next? Join us at the ‘After 5′ Telecoms seminar which will take a look at issues surrounding this topical subject.

Broadband Wales’ CTO, Andy Williamson will examine the future of communications, mobility and convergence and how these increasingly impact on today’s sophisticated IT systems. Andy will explain how Wales is gearing up its broadband infrastructure to meet these imperatives.

Ann Beynon will give an overview of BT’s investments in Wales, such as the 21st Century Network (21CN) – the world’s most radical next generation network transformation programme – and the challenges this presents. Ann will set this against the backdrop of BT’s significant investments in Wales, such as its datacentre.

Dates for future seminars in 2006:

• Thursday 19 January: Data Security
• Thursday 16 February: GRID Computing
• Thursday 16 March: Telematics

The homeless should be given broadband internet access, John Prescott’s office has said in a new report.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister believes digital technology could be a lifeline for people on the streets.

It says many homeless people already use the internet and mobile phones to look for work and accommodation.

And it wants to build on this by encouraging homeless hostels and community centres in deprived areas to install broadband access.

Call to give broadband to the homeless

In March 2005 the European Council agreed to re-launch the Lisbon agenda to focus it more sharply on the key priorities of jobs and growth. Subsequently, the Integrated Guidelines package, endorsed by the European Council in June 2005, identified the key challenges facing the EU as a whole. Member States were then invited to identify their own reform priorities and present forward-looking reform plans to the European Commission by 15th October 2005.

The UK’s first National Reform Programme was published on 13th October 2005. It sets out the challenges currently facing the UK economy, and details the Government’s forward looking agenda of economic reforms to ensure macroeconomic stability, to deliver higher productivity growth and to increase employment opportunity for all.

The UK National Reform Programme – October 2005

Global Europe: full-employment Europe – October 2005

The trial starts next month and will help prepare the so-called “Max” service, which offers speeds of up to 8Mbps (megabits per second).

BT’s broadband network currently offers download speeds of up to 2Mbps.

The telecoms giant is lagging behind some of its rivals which have already started offering much faster connection speeds of up 24Mbps.

BT said it was committed to ensuring that everyone could take advantage of the “broadband revolution” wherever they live in the UK.

BT gears up for ‘max’ broadband

Point Topic’s World Broadband Statistics for mid-2005 show a number of clear trends:

• The growth in the number of broadband lines worldwide is levelling off
• Europe is pushing to take over the leadership of broadband growth
• Russia and India are making significant appearances on the broadband scene at last
• “Cable ethernet??? is growing rapidly as a technology solution in many countries.

EU Commission warned of the consequences to the European content and new media industry if proposed plans to update the TVWF Directive with a new Audio Visual Content Directive go ahead

Intellect and the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) have today issued a joint plea to the EU Commission, asking it to withdraw its commitment to publish a draft Audio Visual Content Directive by the end of the year. The trade association for the UK hi-tech industry and the Government’s advisory group on broadband consider the proposed approach to policy regulation to be totally unworkable, and an attempt by the EU to regulate the internet via the backdoor.

Press release in full

Industry research results

BSG responds to the Proposals for Revision of Television Without Frontiers Directive Consultation on Issues Papers.

BSG response in full

BSG’s response to Ofcom on next Generation Networks: Further Consultation

Industry Report provides first clear snapshot of the UK’s convergence readiness

According to a report, launched today by Intellect the trade association for the UK hi-tech industry, the UK has the potential to become a world leader in convergence, but only if Government, industry and regulators take steps to accelerate the progress made to date.

‘Capitalising on Convergence’, which was developed in conjunction with industry leaders from across the broadcast, consumer electronics, content, telecoms and IT industries, assesses how ready the UK is to exploit the full social and economic value of convergence. Currently the UK scores 5/10 across a set of six key enablers; Regulation, Commercial, Infrastructure, Content, Devices and Consumers. This score reflects the significant process made to date, and the scale of the challenge ahead.

Intellect predicts that this score puts the UK on course for full convergence readiness (10/10) by 2012. However, the authors believe that the UK has the potential to accelerate this process by two to three years. This would enable the UK to leap frog its competitors and become a world leader in the exploitation of convergence; delivering real value to UK consumers through an un-paralleled choice of content, services and applications, and real value to the economy through increased investment, the development of a highly skilled workforce, and growth of a strong and healthy converged industry.

The report has identified three key barriers to more rapid progress, and made recommendations to help speed the process; according to the report we must –

• Create a more converged industry – With greater levels of dialogue and cooperation between stakeholders across the value chain.
• Create a more converged Government – With a better understanding of the implications of convergence.
• Create more converged regulation – Regulation that takes account of and supports the transition towards digital convergence.

Commenting on the Report, John Higgins, Intellect’s Director General said; “The UK’s strengths in telecoms, IT and the creative industries have given us a head start on our global convergence competitors. However, these competitors are moving at pace, and most are focused on the convergence prize. This term of Government therefore represents a critical juncture. We can sit back and begin to feel the social and economic value of convergence from 2012 onwards, or we can accelerate the process within this term of Government, secure our place as a world leader, and reap the full socio economic benefits as our reward.???

In addition to identifying the three key barriers to more rapid progress, the report also identified six key convergence enablers; Regulation, Commercial, Infrastructure, Content, Devices and Consumers. A gap analysis was conducted across each area and the findings highlight key outcomes which industry believe must be achieved if we are to reach 10/10 complete convergence readiness.

Concluding Higgins said; “Intellect firmly believes that widespread digital engagement will be critical to the UK”s ability to become a knowledge economy. We are wholly committed to working in partnership with the various stakeholders to enable increased digital engagement within the UK. Through the publication of this Report we hope to inform the debate, and provide recommendations which will enable the UK to successfully capitalize on convergence.???

Capitalising on Convergence – Delivering Value and Driving Growth in a Digitally Converged World

Publication of Sophisticated broadband services report for the Department of Trade and Industry

This document is the first report of the study commissioned to Analysys by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to examine the market for sophisticated broadband services across the G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK and USA), Australia, Ireland, South Korea and Sweden.

This report summarises Analysys’s findings on the performance of these countries regarding both the availability (coverage) and usage of sophisticated broadband services.

The availability (coverage) data is estimated at the end of the first quarter of 2005. The usage data is estimated to the end of 2004. The coverage findings are based on a sample of 211 fixed and mobile broadband infrastructure operators identified across the 11 countries under study. Coverage results are provided for asymmetric, symmetric and mobile technologies. The usage findings are based on estimates produced by Analysys through reference to free, publicly available data sources.

Two further reports will be produced as part of the study: one in October 2005 and the second in April 2006.

Sophisticated broadband services report, 11 June 2005

Sophisticated broadband services report, October 2005

The Ofcom Consumer Panel has today [ 10 May 2005 ] published its research report: “Consumers and the communications market: where we are now” – along with key findings, plus focus documents on national and consumer segments.

This report details the findings from the market research project commissioned by the Consumer Panel into the current residential consumer and SME experience of the communications market. This will be an annual survey to assess changing consumer concerns year on year, and will be used by the Consumer Panel to inform its work in a number of areas.

The research focused on the residential consumer and SME experience of telecommunications (fixed and mobile), the internet (including broadband) and (for consumers only) broadcasting – including digital switchover – and use of technology.

The two key objectives for the research are to establish:

• What is the level of consumer knowledge regarding what is going on in the communications market and the choices/ alternatives they have now and will have in the future?
• What is the current consumer experience in the communications market?

The LSE has recently completed a major 2-year study investigating the behaviour of 9-19 year olds online.

The final report ‘UK Children Go Online: Final report of key project findings’ contains a number of recommendations for government and industry.

‘UK Children Go Online’ – Final report published today, 28 April 2005

It has been announced today (25 April 2005) that the Scottish Executive have now awarded the contract to provide basic broadband services in the non-commercial parts of Scotland, in line with their commitment to bring broadband to every community in Scotland by the end of December. After an open procurement process, the contract has been awarded to BT.

The Scottish Executive, enterprise agencies and ERDF funds will contribute £16.5M of a total project value of about £30M over a 5 year contract which will result in the enabling of 378 exchanges in the Highlands and Islands and other rural areas. Some of these exchanges will get Exchange Activate.

Scottish Executive News

BSG welcomes Government announcement on a Digital Strategy for the UK

The Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit has published a digital strategy for the UK. The strategy sets out the crucial role that information and communication technology will have for our future prosperity, and addresses the digital divide which currently excludes some groups from benefiting from access to the internet. The strategy is a joint piece of work with the Department of Trade and Industry.

Intellect and the BSG led an industry delegation to No 10 today where the strategy was launched. The BSG has been asked to play a detailed role in the implementation of the strategy.

Press release in full: Government and industry take steps to close the digital divide