'Collaborative investment' needed for next generation broadband

The government, internet service providers (ISP), content producers and infrastructure firms must work together to ensure that British investment in next generation broadband infrastructure is efficient and effective, an expert has said.

Kip Meek, the chairman of advisory body the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), said the government's recently announced consultation on delivering next generation broadband was "not about writing big cheques", but working on how the parties concerned can work together to deliver the right system.

On February 22nd, the department for culture, media and sport said it would review the "path to next generation broadband" as part of a wider consultation on supporting the UK's creative industries.

Mr Meek said a key area of the consultation will be how the "right investment environment" can be created to encourage private sector contributions to infrastructure investment.

"This [review] is not about the government writing out big cheques for the [high-speed] fibre. It's about saying: 'For investment to be efficient from a UK perspective, what types of things need to happen?'" he said.

The BSG is an independent forum for telecoms operators, manufacturers, ISPs, content providers and government bodies others to discuss key broadband policy, regulation and commercial issues.

Posted on: 2008-02-26, in: Broadband

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