Ofcom outlines Broadband future to IET

18 April 2008

Ed Richards, the Chief Executive of the UK’s telecommunications regulator Ofcom, announced important developments in the roll out of super-fast broadband in a speech to the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). To enable a better understanding of the economic and physical factors influencing the future development of broadband Ed Richards announced a sample survey of the UK’s existing underground telecoms infrastructure.

Addressing a packed lecture theatre at the IET’s Savoy Place building on 16 April Ed Richards said:

“I believe that super-fast next generation broadband will come to change our perception of communications radically; alongside mobile broadband, it will in time have a similar impact upon our society and economy as we have seen with first generation broadband.

We need to establish what the position is and whether or not duct access has a role to play in the development of next generation access. So in co-operation with operators we intend to undertake a sample survey of the existing duct network.”

Chris Earnshaw, Deputy President of the IET said:

“The IET is delighted to have hosted this event discussing the development of the next generation of broadband which will be of such critical importance globally.”

Media enquiries to:

Eric Beech
Head of Communications
T: +44 (0)1438 767336
M: +44 (0) 7725498116
E: ebeech@theiet.org

Mary Donovan
Media and PR Officer
T: +44 (0)1438 765587
M: +44 (0) 7725498117
E: mdonovan@theiet.org