One of the hot topics of debate in the UK broadband sector of late has been the access to broadband for those living in some of the more far-flung areas of the UK. There are growing concerns that those living in the countryside may well be penalised via their broadband service charges simply because they are less accessible to the backbone network of the UK. But would it be fair?
While there is no doubt that the cost-effective nature of extending the UK broadband fibre-optic network to the more far-flung areas of the country does diminish, there will be accusations of discrimination if taxpayers money is used to provide fibre-optic broadband to those living in more populated areas of the country at the expense of those in the countryside. However, as we saw with the creation of mobile phone networks in the UK some years ago, broadband providers will almost certainly initially focus upon the more cost-effective and lucrative areas of the UK – possibly to the detriment of those in the countryside in the short term.
Whether we could possibly see different broadband service rates for different areas of the country remains to be seen but the cost-effective nature of laying down a nationwide fibre-optic network is coming under more and more scrutiny.