13 November 2008
Super-fast broadband will have to become integral to working life in order for it to take off across the UK, according to a member of the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee.
Nick Palmer MP made his comments at the Westminster eForum keynote seminar, entitled 'Next Generation Broadband'.
He said there must be a clear distinction between "must have" applications and "nice to have" applications, and that in this sense, super-fast broadband will remain a 'nice to have' technology until it becomes essential for businesses.
"We need to try to get to the point where it's an important part of people's work and where communities evolve again, in the same way that they began demanding broadband," Mr Palmer remarked.
The Westminster eForum keynote seminar examined a number of issues relating to super-fast broadband, including who will be the early adopters and what will encourage growth.
According to the industry regulator Ofcom, broadband take-up has reached 58% of homes in less than eight years.