Successful development of high-speed broadband 'depends on encouraging take-up'

The development of next-generation broadband networks throughout the UK is reliant on a substantial demand from consumers, says an expert panel.

According to the Communications Consumer Panel, there has to be a clear idea of what high-speed broadband services will be specifically used for, while the issue of how to fund the new networks remains.

Many businesses already use software that needs connection speeds much higher than two megabits per second to run effectively, while VoIP solutions could operate better with faster services.

Roger Darlington, member for England at the Communications Consumer Panel and chairman of the Westminster eForum keynote seminar the Future of Broadband in the UK, said: "Crucially, once we have these networks in place, what is actually going to drive consumer and business take-up?"

While discussing whether high-speed services are actually needed in the UK, the seminar also discussed whether the government should shoulder some of the cost of developing the networks.