2 May 2006
Price comparison website uSwitch.com has warned the broadband industry to be wary of the opening digital divide, after a report from the industry regulator found that rural areas were being excluded from high level connections.
The website noted that the telecom industry was growing rapidly, but warned that all must be allowed to share in the latest developments that high-speed connections bring.
"There are now few people who will be unaware of what broadband is, and the recent move by one provider to offer "free broadband forever" has raised its profile even higher," said Chris Williams, telecommunications expert at uSwitch.com.
"However, as this report highlights, a digital divide is in danger of developing and turning us into a nation of 'haves' and 'have-nots'. The challenge is to make sure all consumers benefit from high speed internet connections and the developments such as VoIP and IPTV which these bring."
He also noted that new even faster broadband speeds were now being widely offered to consumers in the main urban centres, which threatened to open a digital divide further.
"Those living in well populated areas such as London have already been targeted with speeds of 8Mb and 24Mb, but nationally the number of people able to purchase such products is still very low - particularly in rural areas," Mr Williams argued.
"The digital divide could widen if the industry does not take this seriously."
© 2008 Adfero Ltd
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