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So just what is superfast broadband, minister?

By Stewart Mitchell

Posted on 18 Jun 2010 at 14:01

One of the key ministers charged with delivering the next generation of internet services for Britain can't even define what the government means by superfast broadband, according to a published answer to a parliamentary question.

Responding to a written question asking for a definition of what the government meant by the term, Edward Vaizey, the lead minister for all matters internet related, choose not to put any figures on target speeds.

“Super fast broadband means broadband of sufficient speed and quality to deliver the services that will lead to Britain having the best broadband network in Europe,” said Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries.

“The technology used to deliver this could be fixed or wireless but will represent a significant upgrade on today's fixed and wireless networks.”

The statement contradicts pre-election promises made by now Chancellor George Osborne when he boasted that a Conservative government would make 100Mbits/sec broadband available to the majority of homes by 2017, after Labour's plans to ensure 2Mbits/sec.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show before the election, Osborne criticised Labour's broadband plans as unambitious and said: “We're talking about 100Mbits/sec, which is a big step forward for this country.”

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User comments

Easy then

It is surely easy then? "having the best broadband network in Europe" means we just have to look at the current best, and be better than that.

So what do other Europeans have?

By MJ2010 on 18 Jun 2010

what do other Europeans have?

They have Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark

http://www.bme.eu.com/media/media-news/infographic
s/091001-BMEU-Broadband.png

By greemble on 18 Jun 2010

24 Mbits/sec

"Superfast Broadband" must be faster than current 8Mbit ADSL, so I cant see that anything other than 24Mbit can be described as such.

Ofcom also agrees describes it as greater than 24Mbit.

Anthing less than all exchanges being 24Mbit+ capable and a MINIMUM 2Mbit to every houshold would IMO be a failure.

By JStairmand on 18 Jun 2010

No numbers = no objective

Elementary management as taught to anyone - objectives must be SMART, with the M = measured. If this is not measured, it's not an objective, it's just an unqualified aim. Not a bad thing to have but not a concrete thing that can be measured against.

By AdrianB on 18 Jun 2010

which is precisely why he put it that way.

First one to come up with a quantified definition of 'significant' wins a significant prize.

By Noghar on 18 Jun 2010

Super Fast ha ha ha

As soon as everyone has their own exchange powered by one of those windmills at the bottom of their garden with fibre connections etc etc, then they'll have S.F.B. Can't wait !!

By linux1943 on 19 Jun 2010

“Super fast broadband means broadband of sufficient speed and quality to deliver the services that will lead to Britain having the best broadband network in Europe,”

Mmmmmm... anyone in the mood for fudge?

By Lacrobat on 20 Jun 2010

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