About Superfast Broadband Projects

Efforts to expand broadband coverage to entire country are now undertaken in the United Kingdom on a war footing. Several million pounds have been pumped into the multi-pronged programme. The all-out and determined campaign in pursuit of a perfect super fast broadband is closely monitored by the government. Anxiety of the country about time bound implementation of the plan is echoed in the parliament when members wanted the country to have the best super fast broadband network in European continent. Broadband delivery UK (BDUK) is a new initiative launched in December 2010 in this connection. In the past few months more than 100 million pounds have been spent under the BDUK. Innumerable projects are now being launched with private participation to provide broadband connectivity to rural and other regions which are adversely affected by the non-availability of both cable and mobile versions of broadband. Local authorities are offered liberal funding to install more network stations and also to upgrade the existing ones if necessary. People are watching these developments keenly as the government is categorical that 98 percent of the households will be provided with super fast broadband connectivity by the end of the term of this parliament. Studies are being undertaken by academicians and other social groups to assess the progress of the projects.

A recent report indicates that the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have offered liberal grants to undertake research about the prospects of UK having super fast broadband connectivity in the near future. Researchers from the University of Southampton and the University of Essex have accordingly undertaken the tasks in collaboration with Industrial enterprises like BBC Research and Development. The Photonic Hyper Highway project, as it is known will study the progress made by the country so far and the viability of various projects. Emphasis is on the way fibre optics is used in the development of new materials and devices in the process. The researchers seem to be optimistic about the nation’s endeavours. According to them possibilities are bright to achieve perfection in the delivery of efficient broadband by the end of this decade. The country will have a super fast broadband which is 100 times faster than the present system. The overall expectation is that systems will be more reliable and efficient. The difficulties experienced now by the consumers will be a thing of the past. Traffic on the global communication networks is expected to increase by 80 percent every year. The country will be able to cope up with the situation in such a scenario.

Projections on the internet usage show that above 90 percent or more of the population will be provided with broadband connections by 2015. As the demands are soaring every year the State should be able to cater increasing demands in tune with the socio economic development of the country. Broadband cannot remain as an option, but an essential requirement in the changing patterns of lifestyles. In all probability citizens may demand broadband as a fundamental right, if the trends of consumptions are taken into account.