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Danny McLaughlin Managing Director,
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By summer 2005, BT will have brought ADSL broadband to exchanges serving 99.6 per cent of UK homes and businesses, the widest coverage in the G8. Together with other public sector initiatives, including Scotland, Yorkshire and the East of England, exchanges serving 99.9 per cent of UK homes will have been enabled for broadband by the end of 2005.
The speed of rollout is a testament to BT's vision, the competitive market conditions and a tribute to the many community groups, Regional Development Agencies, Devolved Administrations and the numerous broadband partnerships across the country who have been working with us to ensure availability, particularly in the rural areas.
Broadband prices are falling, and speeds are increasing - both of which are helping drive demand and new applications. BT has recently announced five million Broadband connections and the market continues to grow at a robust pace. However we still have a long way to go before we can consider ourselves to be a digital included nation.
Whilst Broadband take up in some part of the country is now up to 24%, a recent Government report* has indicated that some 44% of the population still do not see the need for Internet, let alone Broadband. This is further highlighted by the massive variations of usage across the UK regions where in many cases, Broadband adoption is significantly lower than the average of our European competitors. Furthermore, take up by SME's and micro businesses- the key builder of the economy - especially in rural areas - is still only 30%. As Broadband enhances competitiveness, its adoption is key to ensure the success of the regional economies, whether urban or rural.
BT is fully committed to promoting digital inclusion and through its regional teams, is uniquely positioned to work with communities across the whole of the UK, working with regional and local organisations to address the emerging challenges and issues. Already BT has been involved with over eighty broadband partnerships across the country, both enhancing enterprise and helping to increase the value and potential of broadband for all customers.
Working with and alongside communities, a range of regional partnership approaches have evolved, and as these projects have developed and matured, further opportunities are constantly being identified to capitalise on the progress of ICT transforming the way people live and work.
There are a number of examples of this approach, for instance
BT has enabled businesses and community-based organisations to capture and develop local innovative content which can now accessed by global audiences - from highlights of Scottish local club rugby matches, to unique footage of the Flying Scotsman for railway enthusiasts, through a project with the National Railway Museum in York.
In Kensington, Merseyside, local residents can now access up-to-date local information on a community partnership information channel, through PCs or interactive set-top boxes.
BT and Cardiff Council are bringing wireless broadband access to the city through the creation of 'Wi-Fi' networks 50 hotspots and this has encouraged a local vicar to install a wireless broadband hotspot in his church for the local congregation.
Stratford, birthplace of the Bard has just seen the launch of the UK's first wireless broadband project for tourists. Visitors can now hire an innovative Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) as their online tour guide.
In Westminster, London a Wi-Fi network is transforming the delivery of Council services across the city for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors.
The proven benefits of BT's partnership approach go beyond simply extending broadband availability. Regional partnerships speed up the rate of broadband roll-out and accelerate take-up and transformation. The results are dramatic in terms of job creation and access to new markets.
Broadband is a critical factor in the success of UK plc, but its wider benefits are constrained by the rate at which businesses and communities embrace it and harness its potential. The solution to bridging the gap lies in joint working between the public and private sectors. BT will play its part with the rest of the industry to help ensure that the UK truly becomes the world leader in embracing modern communications technology.
Danny McLaughlin
Managing Director, BT Regions
* National Statistics Omnibus Survey