Next-generation broadband could deliver environmental benefits

A growth in the number of people using next-generation broadband connections could deliver environmental benefits, according to a report on earth2tech.com.

Virtual goods could become more popular as an increasing number of people seek better prices by shopping online and these products could be more environmentally-friendly to produce as they lack a physical form.

Next-generation broadband could also help reduce domestic and business costs with faster VoIP solutions and download times.

The website states: "The build-out of high-speed ubiquitous broadband networks becomes a means to fight climate change and an issue at the heart of the cleantech industry."

It added that an increased demand for digital products could become a major benefit of next-generation fibre optic networks throughout the UK.

Broadband is already revolutionising the music industry, with many consumers preferring to download albums to the computer of iPod rather than buying a physical CD, while film studios are beginning to experiment with legal movie downloads as well.