The importance of next-generation network (NGN) broadband systems to the future competitiveness of the UK was the theme of two recent events, which focused on how users will be connected, and what services they might expect.

A Westminster eForum seminar on delivering next-generation broadband brought together a wide selection of interested parties, including Cisco, BT, BSkyB, Carphone Warehouse, Ofcom and the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG). The seminar was chaired by Peter Luff MP, who warned that private-sector NGN initiatives could be sidelined by public sector intervention. “I think there is a real risk of the public sector getting a bit too excited and perhaps crowding out the private sector, with some very worrying consequences for proper technological development and the market place,” he said.

However, BSG chief executive Antony Walker said some form of publicly funded NGN projects would be needed if the UK is to avoid creating another “digital divide”. He added that given the fact that private-sector rollouts would most likely target areas with the highest population densities, “few would disagree that for next-generation broadband services to eventually become pervasive across the UK, some form of public intervention will be necessary”.

Meanwhile, another gathering of NGN stakeholders, this time hosted by Minister of State for Competitiveness Stephen Timms, saw senior executives from BT, Carphone Warehouse, Ofcom, Sky, the BSG and Virgin Media lay the foundations for future co-operation between the public and private sectors.

Timms said the meeting was a “constructive and open discussion” that anticipated the demand for reliably faster and more symmetrical broadband. “Ultra-fast broadband is going to be a key future technology that will allow our businesses to innovate, grow and create wealth,” he added.

The consensus from the summit was that industry, government and the public sector need to collaborate further and that follow-up meetings were needed to set
the context for future investment and priorities.

On the day of the Timms summit, Virgin Media announced its intention to deploy Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (Docsis) 3.0 technology next year. Docsis 3 is designed to give download speeds of 50Mbit/s, and Virgin pledged to have 70 per cent of its customer base ­ which equates to about a third of UK households ­ enabled by the end of 2008.

The BSG’s Walker said Virgin’s announcement was highly significant. “It’s a positive sign that there can be a market-led transition, which is what Ofcom and the industry wants,” he added.