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Does the UK really need super fast broadband

Speed alone is not the answer says Ovum.
 
Following on from the recent debate over the UK needing faster broadband speeds, Michael Philpot, principal analyst at Ovum believes there is no evidence to suggest that there would be a benefit to the country as a whole.

Recent consultations from the Government and Ofcom have pointed to the need for faster broadband speeds in the UK in order to keep up with rival nations, some of whom enjoy speeds of around 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) on their fibre based networks.  Many believe the UK needs to move on from ageing copper based fixed lines.
 
However, not everybody believes that simply installing faster pipes will make all the difference. 

Michael Philpot said: “It can be argued that the ‘better’ the access the greater the benefits. However, where Ovum is not as convinced is that speed alone is the answer and necessarily worth the heavy investment that would be required to deliver 10Mbit/s-plus to all.”

For example, increasing speed would not have as big as impact on teleworking than say a greater change in employer attitude and work culture. Increasing speed would not have as big an impact on education as say greater IT capabilities within schools themselves. Governments should look to these types of measures, measures that would have a real impact on society, and perhaps concern themselves less as to whether their pipe is bigger than their neighbours.”

Of course if it is then deemed that lack of bandwidth is really holding back developments in these critical areas, then that would be the time to act – but not before. So far we have seen little evidence from the Government or Ofcom that would suggest they have gathered any evidence that such investment would really benefit the country as a whole. Do we really want to spend billions of tax payer’s money so that people can watch “a dozen high-definition TV channels”? Would that really make our lives more fulfilled and drive the UK economy?” he added.