On the verge of a Digital Britain
This afternoon, Lord Carter will deliver his long-awaited Digital Britain white paper, outlining his vision for the nation’s digital revolution. Writing in today’s Financial Times, he explained:
‘Just as Britain’s canals and railways formed the symbolic infrastructure of the industrial revolution so the country can exploit the internet revolution using fibre optics and cable in fixed and next generation mobile technology.’
Sounds dramatic, hey. But, joking aside, this report really is a pretty big deal. According to today’s Independent, 22 million Brits depend on the digital and communications industry - which is worth a staggering £52bn a year - for their everyday work.
As well as the modernisation of the UK’s digital infrastructure, one of the most talked-about parts of Lord Carter’s report will be the universal availability of broadband. He wants broadband to be provided to every home, but critics have suggested that not everyone wants it. Only last week research from Ofcom revealed that ‘some 43% of adults who currently do not have internet access would remain disconnected even if they were given a free PC and broadband connection’ (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8091398.stm). With 17 million Brits, or 30% of the population, offline, you’d think that this might put a dampener on Lord Carter’s upcoming announcement.
But a look at today’s headlines – and top social networking sites – hints at the impact a digital revolution could have. As Iran orders an election recount, not long after foreign broadcasters accused the country of blocking TV, radio and mobile sources (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jun/15/iran-jamming-technology-tv-radio-internet), the web is buzzing with news. Take a look at this article from ABC today, which reveals the crucial part that the web is playing in the dissemination of news throughout the international community:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=7845377&page=1
And this is why the development of a Lord Carter’s Digital Britain will be so critical - the sharing of news and information is what will shape the understanding of our future and our history. At the same time, a healthy, competitive communications environment is key, which is why his suggestion of a public service broadcaster to rival the BBC is so significant.
So, while not everyone will be getting excited about the report, it would be foolish not to recognise the impact a truly Digital Britain could have. It’s going to be a big day for Lord Carter – and for the rest of us, too.