Infrastructure is key to competition
Journal business writer Robert Zarywacz says the broadband announcement is welcome – but not the best result.
AFTER an interminable wait, the award of the contract for broadband delivery to BT by Connecting Devon and Somerset is welcome in that, at last, it looks like something will happen. But it's not the best result.
The harsh reality that BT was not going to upgrade exchanges for super fast broadband, or provide broadband in the hardest-to-reach areas because it was not viable, was a big blow for North Devon.
That councils have been chosen to come to the rescue is no reassurance.
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This demonstrates the weakness of the business community at a time when it needs essential resources and infrastructure to be able to compete worldwide.
I believe North Devon businesses have massive potential for success.
I talk to them every week. I visit them and see what they are doing. I also believe they are severely constrained by government, regulation and often by the very initiatives designed to help them.
I believe if the myriad of smaller initiatives were scrapped and their funding switched to major infrastructure, such as broadband and transport, the improvement in our economy would be immense.
If high-flying executives could videoconference to colleagues in America from remote Exmoor, if hoteliers could upload video instantly to their websites and retailers across the area could run their premises as showrooms for their online shops, we could compete with anywhere in the world.
Many places already have this infrastructure, but not our stunning environment.
They will never be able to compete with that.
But if we develop the same infrastructure, there will be nowhere better than North Devon to run a business. Is it worth the fight?
Comments
by DavidT5000
Thursday, February 07 2013, 6:23PM
“Robert I'm glad you have written this. We need more of this rather than the spin we have had from BT for years.
The announcement from CDS is welcome. There are a few bits that people need to realise. Firstly the 90% headline figure relates to % of premises NOT geographical coverage which is by far the most important measure. There is good news, CDS can only invest in areas not already covered by BT's existing commercial roll out plans. This should mean more of us in rural areas get help. Four years is an awful long time to wait. Even then if you are in the lost 10% you may have another 5 years wait on top of that, if indeed you get it at all.
If you visit the CDS web site they have some maps showing the proposed coverage. One map is coloured in to show the areas BT are going to do anyway. The white areas are those areas BT have no interest in. Virtually all of north Devon is white on the map. It makes a mockery of some of the press releases in the Journal from BT about their commitment to north Devon. Virtually all of north Devon is currently on first generation broadband; BT won't even deliver second generation let alone super fast.
We also need to understand the the remaining "lost" 10% relates to the number of premises but potentially that could mean in practice huge areas of north Devon. The remaining 10% are promised at least 2mb in four years time. This seems to be a complete waste of time and money. 2mb is completely out of date and of no use to anyone in four years time. CDS should concentrate on providing as near 100% coverage asap instead.
I'd also like to make a suggestion. Often in the Journal we hear business leaders saying they need faster internet in their areas (Ilfracombe recently for example which already has one of the best BB services in north Devon not that's saying much). Thing is there are around 100 exchanges in north Devon and most of us don't have business leaders in our area to speak up for us and we never get our voices heard or reported on. In line with your article I'd like to see north Devon come together and act with one voice for the good of the whole area.
My exchange has less than 500 lines on it. Who cares about us? Many more villages in our area are in the same boat. We have moved on from BB being a luxury, it is now essential. VAT, PAYE. Livestock returns, Universal Credit reporting and lots more are now compulsory online. You just can't pick up a farm and move it.
More analysis like this please Robert.”