Industry news

'Case must be made' for high bandwidth networks

Planners must address a number of concerns if the right mix of investors in next-generation high bandwidth connections are to be found, an expert says.

Roger Darlington, a member of the Ofcom Consumer Panel, addressing the audience at the Westminster eForum keynote seminar: Next-Generation Broadband claims the organisation should determine what customers want.

Acknowledging the difficulties in encouraging investment when there is no strong sign whether it is what buyers want, he suggests the watchdog has a role to play in proving and planning what there is demand for.

"Investors shouldn't put money into areas where there isn't a sensible business case," he asserts.

He continues: "We should acknowledge it… and plan for exactly what customers want and what they will pay."

Suggesting identifying demand for high bandwidth connections and determining what people are willing to pay for it will allow for investors to be attracted, he predicts people looking back in several year's time will be unable to determine what the market's caution was inspired by.

According to Ofcom, 58 per cent of homes have decided to include broadband in fewer than eight years.