ISPA calls for gov't investment in rural high-speed broadband
Wednesday 19th May 2010
The government must continue to invest in internet infrastructure in order to provide greater access to high-speed web services, it has been suggested.
According to a spokesperson for the Internet Services Providers' Association (ISPA) private sector broadband providers alone cannot be relied upon to make the necessary infrastructure upgrades.
BT is currently investing up to £2.5 billion preparing telephone exchanges for next-generation broadband, although this project may only include two-thirds of the UK.
The spokesperson said it is the responsibility of the government to ensure businesses and consumers in rural and isolated communities - where there is less of a case for private sector investment - can also benefit from high-speed services.
"In the small minority of areas where the market may not deliver, the ISPA would welcome government efforts to ensure that no one is digitally excluded."
The availability of high-speed broadband potentially increases the attractiveness of on-demand managed hosting services, supplied by third-party server specialists.
Earlier this year, the Federation of Small Businesses warned that a lack of fast broadband in the countryside - enabling firms to take advantage of such web services - could lead to a new wave of mass migration to urban areas.
Written by Tim Dunton