UK Broadband Not up to Spec

A study released this week has revealed that the state of the national UK broadband network is ranked behind such mighty countries as Latvia and Bulgaria.

Out of 66 nations that were part of the survey carried out by the Oxford University Business School and the Oviedo University Applied Economics Department, the UK is placed 25th. Leading the way are Korea and Japan, which is hardly surprising given their governments well documented and long-standing commitments to faster networks.

Our Government, as happens far too frequently these days, seems to be making a lot of bluster about having universal access in place for every UK home by 2012 (ironically just in time for the London Olympics when the world's eyes will be turned toward us) but even their current commitment seems vastly insufficient given the progress being made in other countries.

The average global download speed is currently just shy of 5mbs (megabits per second), which puts into perspective the guarantee that all our UK homes will have at least 2mbs access in 3 years time, when that average will have only increased further.

This doesn't make our current provision medieval or archaic by any means, in fact for the current level of technologies available online it is actually fine. Long term however these standards aren't sustainable for the kinds of technologies that are already on their way. (NB. most Internet Service Providers (ISP's) will offer fantastic download speeds, but due to the current state of the network even with a 20mbs connection offered, your downloads will very rarely get anywhere near that unless your computer is plugged in right next to the exchange in your area!)

I'm not being Mr 'Doom and Gloom' here, I'm trying to highlight that whilst there will be a raft of noticeable improvements to our broadband networks over the coming year, this report shows that for all the spin and advertising that will undoubtedly come from both the Government and the ISP's themselves about 'such huge improvements' to all of our online lives, just bear in mind that there is still quite a way to go yet!