Ofcom to boost rural coverage
September 10, 2008 at 12:47 pm
The Office of Communications (Ofcom) has urged broadband companies to consider installing fibre optic broadband in rural areas neglected by the previous generation, before making the service universally available to the rest of the UK. The decision has been met with some concern by advisory groups, who believe that the move is not cost-effective and exacerbates a situation that is already expected to cost a total of £29 billion.
Ofcom has gone to great lengths to ensure that broadband is accessible to all UK residents but some counties still suffer from less than adequate coverage. Perhaps the biggest thorn in Ofcom’s side is the reluctance of some consumers to make the shift from dial-up to broadband with around 9% of the UK still relying on a basic service.
Fibre optic broadband is expected to make internet media such as television, video games, and video calling less cumbersome to use than at present. Features such as video buffering, long download times, and data lag may well be banished to the history books forever should the uptake of super fast broadband be as swift as expected. In addition, Ofcom is hoping to improve the distribution of telemedicine – guidance for ill or infirm people who live far away from valuable provisions or facilities.
Unfortunately, with some broadband companies still unable to provide advertised speeds to their entire customer base, Ofcom may struggle to convince people to upgrade their broadband packages. Extending coverage to the furthest reaches of the UK may yet prove foolish if the demand for superfast broadband is less than expected.
