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The Broadband Stakeholder Group
The market for broadband services has grown strongly over the last year. There are now more than 7 million subscribers in the UK (approximately 25% of households) and the UK now leads the G7 in terms of broadband availability in (ADSL services will be in reach of 99% of households by the end of the summer). Increased availability, strong marketing, more advanced services and falling prices driven by increasing competition are all driving strong and sustained growth.
However, this doesn't mean that it's a case of job done. Looking around the world it is clear that broadband is changing. It is getting faster, more mobile and is starting to deliver much more compelling services, including voice and video. To remain globally competitive over the next few years the UK must stay with the leaders and exploit the broadband opportunity to the full. The stakes are high. Intellect believes it is essential that the UK is a world leading connected economy by 2010, measured by the way people use and exploit broadband enabled technology, content, services and applications.
Intellect therefore continues to support the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), which provides independent advice to Government on the wide range of policy issues involved.
Currently the BSG is working to:
Intellect also played a key role in the development of the Government's Digital Strategy, which was launched by the Prime Minister at the beginning of April 2005. The strategy contains 8 actions designed to drive the exploitation and use of broadband in the UK. It was designed to enable the delivery of real benefits by helping the UK's citizens to become healthier, better educated and more engaged in their communities and society. Successful implementation will provide a further stimulus to investment in both content and applications and the next generation of communications infrastructure.
Speaking at the Number 10 launch, Intellect's Director General John Higgins said: "The launch of the 'Digital Britain' strategy is vital. It confirms that exploitation of technology is back at the heart of the political agenda and creates a solid framework for focused action by Government and industry."
Intellect and the BSG led an industry delegation to the Number 10 launch and the BSG has been asked to play a detailed role in the implementation of the strategy.
http://www.broadbanduk.org/
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