Cameron pledges to make fast broadband a legal right for all

[HEXUS]

By 2020 everyone in the UK should have at least 10Mbps broadband.

Read more.

[Corky34]

Access to the Internet shouldn't be a luxury

Does that mean we're not going to be charged VAT for Broadband?

10 Mbps is the speed needed to meet the demands of today’s typical family and many small business

And 10 Mbps makes it all the better to spy on you.

[me-yeah]

its not going to happen, crusty BT won`t give you a landline back if your job ends, and you don`t pay them, all other landlines from ISP`s just sell BT lines except virgin

it ends up being faster and cheaper to just use EE and 3 on 3g with your cell plugged in to your desktop then most BT connections on landlines

[BobF64]

Only way this will happen is if either the government legislate and can punish the underlying carrier with a fine bigger than the investment costs, or if there are large subsidies involved.

I can see why Virgin are against subsidies, because they know their technology isn't cost effective to install, or they would have done it in many more places by now, meaning most of the money will be handed to BT to upgrade all their cabinets to Fibre.

The problem with "rights" is that people see it as something they are entitled to without actually having to pay proper costs for it. If it cost £1000 per fibre line to upgrade a cabinet with only a few lines on it, no one connected to it would want to pay for it.

[crossy]

As indicated in the above statement, fast broadband is now seen as a necessity; essential for families, entrepreneurs, and businesses.

Pardon my cynicism but notice that there's no mention of government in that list. Strange given that the chancellor has been quoted as saying he wants HMG to move over to "digital delivery" of services.

Anyone think that this won't end up as (a) a lot of hot air, and/or (b) a whacking government subsidy heading to BT with no real progress in sight?

Actually I'd maybe be happier in the idea of subsidising OpenReach if OpenReach was either nationalised or reformed into a not-for-profit like Network Rail.

I'm also fascinated that 10Mb/s is "Fast Broadband" - surely that kind of speed is (theoretically?) achievable with our current 4G setup. What does that make my supposed* 152Mb/s from VM - hyperspeed?

(* very unhappy with VM at the moment - got an email from them saying I was being speed-boosted "shortly" and in the meantime the link speed has about halved. Maybe I need to move from SuperHub1 modem to something more modern).

[me-yeah]

Only way this will happen is if either the government legislate and can punish the underlying carrier with a fine bigger than the investment costs, or if there are large subsidies involved.

I can see why Virgin are against subsidies, because they know their technology isn't cost effective to install, or they would have done it in many more places by now, meaning most of the money will be handed to BT to upgrade all their cabinets to Fibre.

The problem with "rights" is that people see it as something they are entitled to without actually having to pay proper costs for it. If it cost £1000 per fibre line to upgrade a cabinet with only a few lines on it, no one connected to it would want to pay for it.

the government has paid BT £16 billion to lay down fibre, which the payouts end in a few years

[shaithis]

Does that mean we're not going to be charged VAT for Broadband?

That would require the EU to agree

[Wozza63]

Does that mean we're not going to be charged VAT for Broadband?

That would require the EU to agree

So we could do it if we left.. They have no right to be meddling with our affairs anyway!

[Corky34]

I can see why Virgin are against subsidies, because they know their technology isn't cost effective to install, or they would have done it in many more places by now, meaning most of the money will be handed to BT to upgrade all their cabinets to Fibre.

I thought the reasons for VM not rolling out in more places was due to councils not granting permission, not wanting their roads dug up and the accompanying hassle involved with laying what they probably see as something that's already there in the form of BT cables, then again i could be talking rubbish as IDK about the inter workings of VM or councils.

[mojothejester]

Fast internet is not a luxury, it's a right. Tell that to homeless people who have to beg for food and shelter. Or the many people who use food banks because the government make more austerity cuts. Good for a lot of people, but I think priorities are a bit wrong.

[sedontane]

I'm also fascinated that 10Mb/s is "Fast Broadband" - surely that kind of speed is (theoretically?) achievable with our current 4G setup. What does that make my supposed* 152Mb/s from VM - hyperspeed?

(* very unhappy with VM at the moment - got an email from them saying I was being speed-boosted "shortly" and in the meantime the link speed has about halved. Maybe I need to move from SuperHub1 modem to something more modern).

This also fascinates me (100Mbps user) also. But 10Mbps is still a darn sight better than the 0.2-0.7 some of my friends currently get.

(* on your note, I would ask VM if they will upgrade you, it can't hurt and the SH2 is far superior)

[abaxas]

God this boils my urine

No-one need 'fast' internet for anything other than watching movies or piracy. There is no difference for people if their webpages take 2 seconds of 2.1 seconds to load.

[aniilv]

God this boils my urine.

No-one need 'fast' internet for anything other than watching movies or piracy. There is no difference for people if their webpages take 2 seconds of 2.1 seconds to load.

Oh my.... It's hard to comprehend the amount of stupidity in that comment.

[abaxas]

Oh my.... It's hard to comprehend the amount of stupidity in that comment.

So come on.... what do people 'need' fast internet for.....

[CK_1985]

Although it sounds very useful, there are possible issues around the government releasing address-specific connectivity data. If you're trying to sell your house and the government suddenly tells everyone it has rubbish mobile signal and slow broadband, and as a result the market value goes down by a few grand, you're going to be mighty annoyed!

[zarnywoop]

Middle of urban Manchester and I get 3Mb/s (3.5 on a good day). Good luck with that!