/Big Question/ Electric Albion
22/07/2009 | Filed under Discover > Big Question
What are your thoughts on the Digital Britain report?
Interactive expert
Justin Cooke
Fortune Cookie
There’s no doubt that the Digital Britain report is the best document ever produced by any government anywhere on the planet on the subject. It’s joined-up, the process was consultative and the commitments around education, inclusion and access are admirable.
However, my overwhelming feeling is that it’s not bold enough to seize the extraordinary opportunity in front of us. Hindsight will show that we are in the middle of a perfect storm: an economy that needs to be rebuilt and redefined, a nation looking for strong leadership and a connected world making a seismic shift from analogue to digital.
Gordon Brown has said that universal broadband access is as important as other basic utilities like electricity, water and gas. It is more important than that.
This new world will enable innovation and economic benefits we cannot today predict. Computer literacy adds a 10 per cent wage premium and first generation broadband provided a boost to GDP of some half to one per cent a year – the next generation has the potential to do ten times that. Given that context, do the outputs really reflect this opportunity?
It could be argued that too much focus has been on consumption of digital television and music on our computers. Not enough on the fact that digital technology and the networked economy is transforming organisations and creating entirely new business models. The DVLA reduced costs by 45 per cent by transforming itself for the digital world. If we can introduce these levels of efficiency to our own businesses and other public services what could we do with the surplus?
The other aspect of the report that receives a light touch is what our global competitors are doing in this area. Do the intentions of the report have the BRIC economies quaking in their boots or at least admiring our vision?
This country has digital talent that is second to none. Throughout history we’ve invented, innovated and inspired. We need someone with the vision of Bevan. Someone who can seize the moment and create a digital policy with the long-standing impact of the National Health Service that our children will look back to and respect us for.
Tonight I will go to bed dreaming that when I wake up tomorrow Gordon Brown will be announcing to Evan on the BBC that he is to going to borrow £500billion to make Britain the world’s leading digital economy and immediately creating an open, national wireless network and giving every child a laptop.
Now that’s a real digital Britain.
Justin Cooke is managing director of Fortune Cookie and Chair of BIMA
Project manager
Ané-Mari Peter
on-IDLE
It’s not often that I agree with Gordon Brown, but for once he hit the nail on the head when he said in The Times: “A fast internet connection is now seen by most of the public as an essential service, as indispensable as electricity, gas and water.” Without an internet connection it’s becoming virtually impossible to find out about council services, access news, do business, pay bills or do your banking.
The report has resisted the temptation to be restrictive to preserve the rights of content publishers and instead works towards providing universal, unrestricted access to all.
It will be a great Britain if it truly does become fully digital – it will increase the economic potential and creative contribution of those who currently don’t have the luxury of living in a wired world. Digital Britain will reduce the consumption of prescriptive, packaged broadcast media and provide the opportunity for everyone to shape, share and contribute content.
Ané-Mari is the co-founder of on-IDLE and has a background in business management and technology
Business specialist
Dickie Armour
Fibranet Services Ltd
The report covers a whole raft of issues based around the term “digital” so I’m just going to focus on those that seem more relevant to those of us using the internet.
I don’t agree with the 50p Next Generation Broadband (NGB) “tax” on every household in the UK with a BT landline. My understanding is that it will be put towards getting the final 33 per cent of households connected. I imagine some of these will be in remote locations, and the report doesn’t specify an absolute target of 33 per cent but actually accepts there will be approximately 10 per cent who may not get NGB. So we’ll be paying £6 a year for a benefit that those of us near large towns and cities will be able to get access to anyway.
The other more serious point is discussed on page 193 and 194 and is based around domain names. Point 21 mentions concerns over cyber-squatting, drop catching, pressure sales of domain names and poor registration practices, Nominet (the central registry for .uk domain names) is undergoing a governance review consultation at the request of BERR (the Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform – the old DTI). Up until now, the domain name business in the UK has always been self-regulated and this has been very successful. However, BERR and the government have a few concerns and are considering stepping in to regulate the domain name industry and I draw your attention to Point 22 in the report on page 194.
If anyone reading this is a member of Nominet, I urge you to get involved in the governance review with Nominet and make sure you participate in the questionnaire on their website.
Government regulation will not be a good thing for the domain name industry and we need to ensure all stakeholders work together to help Nominet satisfy the concerns raised by BERR.
Dickie Armour is general manager of Fibranet Services
Social media and comms expert
Rachel Hawkes
Elemental Communications
One of the things that became apparent just prior to the public launch of the Digital Britain Report was a quote from the prime minister in The Telegraph, where he states that the internet is as important as water or gas. Hmm. Well, with respect Mr Brown, there are three things for survival that every human needs: food, shelter and water. As attached to the internet as I am, I do not need a 2MB line as much as I need water or heating.
I think what The Prime Minister is trying to say, though, is that the world has changed and in order to survive and compete, Britain must also provide the tools and means for future generations to compete in a competitive, technology-driven global market place (a marketplace that is made smaller and more competitive with the internet).
Without getting into the cost and time involved – reportedly 10 years – of rolling out efficient but slow (in comparison to current and promised line speeds of up to 24MBs) broadband countrywide, I find the “plans” laid out in Lord Carter’s Digital Britain Report to tackle internet piracy to be the most interesting, confusing and fuzzy.
It seems to me that although the government has acknowledged that digital has changed the world we live in, it fails to recognise that it has changed cultural attitudes as well. Younger generations have different attitudes when it comes to piracy; in fact they don’t see it as theft at all. If the content is there and they can take it/view it, then they will. The Government, along with service providers, publishers and copyright holders, have sat on their hands for far too long expecting a solution to the growing problem to appear before them – one that would mean they wouldn’t have to change business models and internal cultures. Well change they must, and as far as I can see, the proposals laid out in Digital Britain don’t scratch the surface.
Rachel is account director at Elemental Communications
Media & PR expert
Tim Gibbon
Elemental Communications
The Digital Britain Report certainly has generated interest from all digital and traditional media quarters. It’s clear that the Lord Carter and his team have listened, but the general consensus is that there is still much room for improvement and a greater understanding of the complex issues that lie ahead.
Much of the subject matter has been covered in other. net big questions, with one of the main issues for me the accessibility of broadband, the investment needed and where it may be sourced from. It’s a necessity to make higher speed broadband accessible to more people and reach poor coverage areas as the rate of technology growth rises at an alarming rate.
The report reveals that the government will invest £200m in a public service delivery plan designed to provide 2Mb per second broadband internet access to all by 2012. It also reveals that all households with a landline will need to pay £6 per year broadband tax, which I can’t imagine many will be pleased to hand over. The £200m will be reallocated from money remaining from the Digital Switchover Help Scheme. Managed by the BBC, the initiative was set up to help the elderly and disabled with the transition from analogue to digital television by 2012.
The report does focus on areas that should be thoroughly explored, but seems to come short in some areas, and perhaps takes the middle ground on areas that need stronger direction. A good start, but more listening is required for long-term objectives to be achieved and the needs of consumers and stakeholders to be realised.
Tim is director of Elemental Communications
Platform evangelist
Andrew Shorten
Adobe
While it’s encouraging to see specific government focus on ‘Digital Britain’, the commitments to deliver universal broadband at 2Mbps across the UK by 2012 are simply not ambitious enough. There is clear demand for the consumption of rich media content and services, at home, at work and on the move. Without significant investment in the supporting digital infrastructure, Britain will lag behind other countries in the adoption of new digital services. Our creative and technical talent is recognised as some of the best in the world, and I hope that roll-out of proposed high-speed wired and wireless broadband will get high priority so that we can continue to be at the forefront of innovation.
Andrew spreads the word about Flex, Flash, AIR, ColdFusion and rich internet applications
Marketing expert
Spencer Gallagher
GyroHSR
Digital Britain was touted as ‘a comprehensive look at the country’s media and communication landscape’, but my impression is that it lacks ambition, and is simply a case of too little, too late.
One key focus is to provide universal broadband access with a 2Mb connection speed by 2012. However, if 50 per cent of Japan’s population already has access to fibre optic broadband, giving connections of up to 100Mb, surely we should be expecting something a lot faster than 2Mb three full years from now? We’re currently rated seventh in the world in terms of internet access. However, if the UK is to even start to compete with other nations, we need to be thinking bigger and setting bolder targets for ourselves. I also have concerns that the report hasn’t done enough to address the important area of digital education. With the continued demand for digital talent across all types of businesses, I just don’t feel there’s enough substance and conviction given to tackling the current and growing skills shortage in the digital industry. I’d like to see more collaboration between the Department for Education and digital agencies themselves to develop relevant and commercially applicable courses for both students and individuals that wish to retrain.
Spencer Gallagher is senior vice-president and global best practice leader, digital for GyroHSR
Ecommerce expert
Ben Dyer
Actinic
Well it’s considerably better than I thought it would be. My reaction to the interim report issued in January was horror, and while the full report is somewhat improved, it’s still missing huge sections of content. At the recent Media 140 event, the first Twitter conference in London, I spent most of the day surrounded by newspaper and radio hacks. One thing is very clear: they’re fighting to stay in business. It’s tragic that the Digital Britain report fails to tackle this. It’s clear the vast majority of “old media” now realises its industry needs a shake up to survive, The Guardian being the trail-blazing example of the way to go. However, the report doesn’t even mention the antiquated competition rules these businesses face. In fact, the word ‘newspaper’ is only mentioned four times.
So, while the report gets a lot of basics right, I really feel it’s mainly focused on grabbing headlines. For a really insightful view, I suggest you read the “Fake” Digital Britain report compiled by a good friend of mine, Tony Hurst.
Ben Dyer is director of product development at Actinic
Hosting specialist
Neil Barton
Hostway, UK
Increasingly, technology and internet access is becoming less of a useful toy, and more of a cornerstone in our daily lives. The main thrust of the Digital Britain report has been on the democratisation of broadband access, and in some ways this seems to be a very modest goal. In reality, it’s a very ambitious one. Regardless of the scope of the project however, it’s in every way a laudable goal, and it’s quite right that this objective should take overwhelming precedence over the anti-piracy agenda of the media industry (an important secondary objective though that may be).
For this reason, promoting digital inclusion and facilitating universal internet access is an extremely positive and powerful movement. While internet access is perhaps not as essential a resource as water or electricity, it is nonetheless extremely important, and many people today would struggle to go about their daily lives without it. Computer usage, as the report notes, has become a differentiator in the employment market, increasing wages by between three and 10 per cent, and those who know how to command the resources of the internet will presumably attract an even higher rate of pay.
The execution of the Digital Britain report will be an ambitious venture, but universal broadband access is certainly a goal worth striving for. Although it will no doubt include some expensive and innovative projects to get broadband to rural areas, the end result will certainly be a faster, more agile and simply more connected country. And that’s something worth paying for.
Neil is the director of Hostway UK
Content guru
James Freedman
Zone
Having a contestable fund for public service TV is a great idea. The BBC has always controlled an expensive spectrum, and it’s a good thing that organisations won’t be forced to go via the BBC’s channels.
Also, universal penetration of broadband and greater speeds give content owners with an audience and a powerful brand enormous opportunities to bypass the traditional media. And the fact that public service money is available to a broader range of organisations will create a greater amount of work for creative public service organisations such as arts foundations.
On the downside however, Channel 4’s situation has not been resolved at all, and nor has the licence fee question of the BBC using public funds for lightweight entertainment programmes in an increasingly commercially driven world.
James is CEO of digital content agency Zone
Software expert
Ian Moulster
Microsoft
Disclaimer: I haven’t read the full report, just the highlights. However, I’ll venture a (personal) opinion anyway. Bottom line, I’m keen on anything that helps move us towards a future where ultra-high-speed net access is ubiquitous. You can argue on how we get there, and how quickly we can get there, but what we shouldn’t do is spend months and years arguing about how to do it and how to afford it instead of getting it done. I’ve seen people fretting about whether it’s ambitious enough, or whether taxing landlines is fair or effective, or whether we’re moving quickly enough or too quickly. While I realise you have to approach this properly, I get really frustrated at a lack of action and a barrage of negativity that slows everything down (whatever you propose, someone won’t like it). So my preference is to strip this down to the essentials: will this get us closer to ultra-high-speed ubiquitous net access? And is there a better option that’s as fully worked out as this that we could implement faster? I feel the answers are probably “yes” and “no” respectively, which suggests that we should go with this proposal, burning warts and ironing wrinkles as we go. And if a better solution comes to light while we’re doing it let’s not be afraid to adapt accordingly. But for heaven’s sake, let’s not stand still and debate any more.
Ian is senior product manager for Microsoft
Hosting specialist
Dominic Monkhouse
PEER 1
Lord Carter’s Digital Britain report has highlighted some key issues. The UK does need to prepare itself for the continued growth of the internet, and data centres will indeed be key to this. However, he is incorrect in stating that there is a data centre ‘supply problem’. And to suggest that the ‘private sector needs to look beyond the current recession’ and build wholly-owned data centres is simply irresponsible.
In the current economic climate, existing data centre space is not hard to find and the argument for any organisation to build its own data centre is unjustifiable. Options like co-location, multi-tenancy and hosted data centre solutions offer far greater cost flexibility and scalability than a wholly owned infrastructure ever can. Data centres take up to two years to build; they also take time to reach full capacity and powering. On top of this, cooling for under-used space is a significant environmental challenge and certainly won’t help the UK reach the 2050 target of an 80 per cent cut in CO2 emissions.
While the Digital Britain report does answer some questions, it raises plenty of others. The most important is whether the Government really understands the technology needed to bring Britain into the digital age.
Dominic Monkhouse is UK MD at hosting firm PEER 1
Software specialist
Siim Vips
Modera
Considering how important the internet is to business, culture and development, I’m not surprised to see the reactions from various individuals, groups and organisations. As a vibrant hub in the digital ecosystem, Modera was watching what the outcome of the report was and how it may affect the UK.
The challenges and issues that the UK faces are not hugely different from those in other nations. The UK government is coming to the realisation that the internet isn’t a flash in the pan and that supporting its development and growth should be high on the agenda.
The report conveys this, and echoes the sentiments of Gordon Brown. However, it hasn’t been received well by all, with many expressing disappointment in it, hoping it would have done more than just scratch the service. Issues such as broadband, privacy and monetising digital channels are more complicated than how they may appear on the surface. Although the report writers may have listened and addressed some points before the full version was released, there is still some way to go based on what we have seen from the recent final report.
Siim Vips is founder and CEO of Modera
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