| |
 |
| SWERDA Broadband Forum |
| |
Surf took part in a broadband forum, organised by the South West
of England Regional Development Agency (SWERDA). The forum included
a panel debate where Surf concluded that to facilitate the delivery
of broadband services in the region; the regulator needs to put
pressure on the wholesale market to cooperate.
- Broadband is very important for remote and rural communities.
This ranges from businesses with a basic communications need,
such as growers requiring online access to supermarkets, to
education and healthcare sectors, still struggling with lack
of capacity over certain routes.
- The key to delivering a competitive
broadband market in these rural areas is realistic pricing.
With limited margins, many service providers are put off by
the prospect of long term investments and the potential for
competitors to derail business.
- A competitive market is therefore
best achieved through regulation i.e. franchising areas to
control competition and regulate costs. Franchising can also
be a way forward to protect community initiatives.
- Whilst there
is a growth of suppliers to larger regional conurbations, local
access/distribution networks remains an issue for smaller towns
and rural areas as few service providers have their own access
networks.
- There is alternative infrastructure as far as the
inter town core backbones are concerned but in terms of access
network, new services are confined to large capacity opportunities
and to unbundling BTs’ local loops by national
operators.
- Addressing the fibre access to areas in the region currently
lacking high capacity presence remains a key issue in respect
of new roll-out and next generation networks.
- The wholesale
market must have assurances that long-term investments will
give adequate returns and needs to be confident that the
fibre cable required or even ducts/ rights of way do not already
exist.
- The regulator needs to put pressure on the wholesale
market to cooperate over existing assets. The onus should
be on wholesale providers to make the case to the regulator
for not allowing assets to be leased.
|
| |
Notes to editors:
Surf Telecoms is a leading provider of telecommunications products
and services in the South West of England and Wales. A combination
of stability, agility and technological innovation makes Surf
the region’s first choice for carriers, mobile operators,
systems integrators and large corporate and public sector customers.
As a Western Power Distribution company, Surf Telecoms ensures
sound financial underpinning of the business, robust solutions
and a total commitment to 24/7 support and availability throughout
the year.
For copies of the logo or further press information please contact:
Jennifer Carr at Circle PR
0207 801 6280 or 07790 423054
jennifer.carr@circlepr.co.uk |
| |
|
|
|
|
