Super-fast broadband given the green light by Ofcom

A NEW super-fast broadband that can deliver up to 10 times the speed of today’s services has been given the green light.

The new service will revolutionise internet access The new service will revolutionise internet access

The new generation of internet access means more families will be able to watch HDTV, play interactive games online, download music and watch TV programmes and films via their broadband connection at home.

The revolutionised system will also allow businesses to use services simultaneously, such as two-way video calls, improved data retrieval and give staff more opportunities to work from home.

Announced by Ofcom today, the super-fast service will enable users to download at just two megabits per second - fast enough to watch a video online.

Ed Richards, chief executive of the watchdog said: “Super-fast broadband represents one of the most important developments in modern communications for many decades.

“It will deliver significant benefits to consumers and businesses with the prospect of new digital services delivered over the internet at high speed.

“Our message today is clear: there are no regulatory barriers in the way of investment in super-fast broadband; we want to promote investment but also ensure that there is fair and effective competition for the future.”

In January, the Government released its interim Digital Britain report, announcing plans for every home in the UK to have guaranteed access to broadband internet by 2012.

Currently the number of customers using broadband from providers other than BT has swelled by more than five million in just four years.

Virgin Media has already launched a 50 megabits per second service, which is currently available to 30 per cent of UK homes and rising to 51 per cent by the middle of this year.

So far companies have already announced plans to invest and roll-out the new super-fast broadband in the UK.

However by upgrading the currently-used copper cables to fibre-optic wires, roads will have to be torn up for the thousands of miles of cable to be put down - causing a massive disruption to Britain's roads.

Ian Livingston, chief executive of BT Group, said he was encouraged by Ofcom's plans to roll-out the new generation of broadband in the next three years.

He said: “Today’s announcement gives us the green light to push ahead with our £1.5 billion super-fast broadband investment plans to reach at least 40 per cent of UK households by 2012.

“UK consumers and businesses benefit hugely from the highly competitive broadband market in existence today, with some of the widest availability and lowest prices in the world.

“Today’s announcement from Ofcom has set expectations for the whole UK industry as the market evolves into a fibre-based world.

“This is an important step and will allow the market to develop the next generation of the UK’s broadband infrastructure, which is so critical to the UK’s future as a knowledge-based economy.

“The stage is now set for a wide variety of players, of all different shapes and sizes, to do their bit in providing consumers with a choice for super-fast and innovative services.

"Now it’s all about delivery," he added.

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