Even though the recent publication of the Digital Britain report was welcomed across the board there are still rumours of significant issues between the regulators and the U.K.’s broadband providers. It seems that the vast majority of parties have agreed that the principle of the report is correct but the way in which broadband will be rolled out across the UK, including rural parts, is causing a significant headache.
The most recent suggestion is that mobile broadband, as opposed to fibre-optic or traditional telecom networks, will be used to introduce more reliable and faster broadband to the more rural areas of the UK but how will this be done?
The regulator has taken a fairly aggressive stance suggesting that airwaves previously allocated to leading mobile phone companies will be “clawed back” and shared out among the sector to ensure that rural broadband is introduced sooner rather than later. This has obviously caused serious unrest amongst the likes of Vodafone and O2 who currently occupy the airwaves in question. We have the traditional objections between commercial and non-commercial bodies even though at the end of the day it is all in the interest of the UK broadband sector.
While it is easy to see the argument from both sides, let’s not forget that Vodafone and O2 (who stand to lose significant airwaves if Lord Carter gets his way) have already invested substantial money and time in their own operations. Who will compensate this significant outlay?