Vtesse News
Vtesse Networks present evidence on barriers to ultra-fast broadband to Parliamentary Select Committee
In the wake of the recent Digital Britain report (1), the Business, Innovation and Skills Parliamentary Select Committee sought evidence from leading UK broadband operators, including Vtesse Networks, on the practicality and achievability of the recommendations of the report. The meeting was held on the 2nd November 2009 in London.
Giving evidence, Aidan Paul, Chief Executive of Vtesse Networks, argued for the removal of artificial economic barriers to deployment of ultra-fast broadband in areas poorly served by current broadband services. Ultra-fast broadband is a basic enabler for the high quality video transmission needed by rapidly growing next generation internet services. It also enables high quality “triple play (2)” service delivery. The technologies used by Vtesse to provide ultra-fast broadband also provide a more reliable and more consistent customer experience than current services allow.
A further benefit of the ultra-fast broadband services proposed by Vtesse Networks is that customers in ALL areas of the UK would be able to enjoy similar high speeds, removing the current postcode lottery that delivers a very poor broadband experience to a third of UK residents.
The barriers to successful economic deployment are significant however and demand regulatory attention. The two areas discussed by Aidan Paul in giving evidence were the inequity of the current underground fibre optic cable business rating system and the reluctance of British Telecom to allow competitive access to its own underground fibres on the same terms that its Open Reach business provides to its own wholesale and retail businesses.
These concerns are discussed and explained in the video transcript of the committee session that can be seen here http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=5033 .
Computer Weekly have published an article that impartially describes the problems created by the current fibre rating system here http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/11/04/238417/how-the-government-taxes-uks-broadband-future.htm .
Commenting on the review by the Select Committee, Aidan Paul said “Vtesse Networks welcome the desire of the committee to understand the barriers that might prevent the vision presented in the Digital Britain report from being realised and also the wider ambition to see a consistent ultra-fast broadband experience available to all of the population irrespective of location. Understanding the issues is an important first step and we look forward to their resolution in the form of regulatory intervention and rating system reform.
Particularly, Vtesse Networks welcome the helpful comments made by Ed Vaizey, Shadow Minister for Culture, at the recent International Dark Fibre Convention. A transcript of Ed’s speech can be seen here http://www.shadowdcms.co.uk/newsshow.aspx?ref=196 ”
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(1) http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/exsumchpt9_digitalbritain-finalreport-jun09.pdf(2) Triple Play – Voice, Video and Internet