Broadband Britain 'must follow Korea path'

molinaalexis

South Korea's broadband success is due to its government's willingness to help fund network rollout - the UK must learn from this, says a new report
The UK government must show more vision in its broadband strategy and provide more investment if Britain is to match the achievements of South Korea.

This is one of the key conclusions of an investigation into the success of broadband in South Korea, which was led by Brunel University and funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).



South Korea has the most advanced broadband market in the world, and 9.2 million -- over 60 percent -- of its households now have broadband. According to this investigation, which took place in July this year, the South Korean Government can claim a lot of the credit for this achievement.

In 1995, South Korea pledged to transform itself into a leading knowledge-based economy. The rollout of high-speed Internet services was a major part of this strategy.

The Brunel University/DTI report explains that the South Korean government provided vital financial support to make broadband rollout happen.

"The South Korean government had the vision to drive towards a knowledge-based economy, and it recognised there were two clear barriers it had to overcome -- making sure there was sufficient investment, and motivating the incumbent telco," explained Antony Walker, a senior executive at high-tech industry group Intellect, and a member of the Broadband Stakeholders Group.

As well as deregulating the telecoms sector, the South Korean government provided some (GBP)1bn of funding for a new high-capacity backbone network, which meant that telecoms firms did not have to use the infrastructure of the incumbent, Korea Telecom.

The South Korean Government is also providing "soft loans" -- loans at preferentially low interest rates -- to companies who are building new infrastructure, something the UK government has failed to do. In both 1999 and 2000, (GBP)50m worth of soft loans was made available to operators to deploy new local networks.

This funding was then extended to address the problem of lack of broadband in rural areas -- and the South Korean government has committed to provide soft loans totalling some (GBP) 600m for broadband providers to solve this Broadband Divide.

In contrast, the British Government has committed just (GBP)30m to fund broadband schemes in remote areas, preferring to leave broadband rollout to the private sector. This is despite the fact that one third of the British population cannot currently get affordable broadband, compared to just 10 percent in South Korea.

After a very rocky time, broadband take-up in Britain is finally picking up and the one-millionth broadband user was connected this week. According to Professor Ray J Paul, dean of the faculty of technology and information systems at Brunel University, it isn't too late for the UK government to learn from South Korea.

"By determining a clear policy and applying an appropriate amount of public money to leverage the joint activities undertaken with the commercial sector, the UK government's target of being at the forefront of broadband could be achieved, and quite quickly as South Korea has shown," said Professor Paul.

As well as the government's role, the Brunel University/DTI mission identified several other factors behind South Korea's broadband success, including the popularity of gaming with consumers and the fact that many people live in large apartment complexes that are easy to broadband-enable.

News source: ZDNet UK

Where does all this leave our country ?????????!!!!!!!
:rolleyes:

sax0000

Surely they mean Broadband everywhere must follow Korea path?

Originally posted by molinaalexis
South Korea's broadband success is due to its government's willingness to help fund network rollout - the UK must learn from this, says a new report
The UK government must show more vision in its broadband strategy and provide more investment if Britain is to match the achievements of South Korea.

This is one of the key conclusions of an investigation into the success of broadband in South Korea, which was led by Brunel University and funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).



South Korea has the most advanced broadband market in the world, and 9.2 million -- over 60 percent -- of its households now have broadband. According to this investigation, which took place in July this year, the South Korean Government can claim a lot of the credit for this achievement.

In 1995, South Korea pledged to transform itself into a leading knowledge-based economy. The rollout of high-speed Internet services was a major part of this strategy.

The Brunel University/DTI report explains that the South Korean government provided vital financial support to make broadband rollout happen.

"The South Korean government had the vision to drive towards a knowledge-based economy, and it recognised there were two clear barriers it had to overcome -- making sure there was sufficient investment, and motivating the incumbent telco," explained Antony Walker, a senior executive at high-tech industry group Intellect, and a member of the Broadband Stakeholders Group.

As well as deregulating the telecoms sector, the South Korean government provided some (GBP)1bn of funding for a new high-capacity backbone network, which meant that telecoms firms did not have to use the infrastructure of the incumbent, Korea Telecom.

The South Korean Government is also providing "soft loans" -- loans at preferentially low interest rates -- to companies who are building new infrastructure, something the UK government has failed to do. In both 1999 and 2000, (GBP)50m worth of soft loans was made available to operators to deploy new local networks.

This funding was then extended to address the problem of lack of broadband in rural areas -- and the South Korean government has committed to provide soft loans totalling some (GBP) 600m for broadband providers to solve this Broadband Divide.

In contrast, the British Government has committed just (GBP)30m to fund broadband schemes in remote areas, preferring to leave broadband rollout to the private sector. This is despite the fact that one third of the British population cannot currently get affordable broadband, compared to just 10 percent in South Korea.

After a very rocky time, broadband take-up in Britain is finally picking up and the one-millionth broadband user was connected this week. According to Professor Ray J Paul, dean of the faculty of technology and information systems at Brunel University, it isn't too late for the UK government to learn from South Korea.

"By determining a clear policy and applying an appropriate amount of public money to leverage the joint activities undertaken with the commercial sector, the UK government's target of being at the forefront of broadband could be achieved, and quite quickly as South Korea has shown," said Professor Paul.

As well as the government's role, the Brunel University/DTI mission identified several other factors behind South Korea's broadband success, including the popularity of gaming with consumers and the fact that many people live in large apartment complexes that are easy to broadband-enable.

News source: ZDNet UK

Where does all this leave our country ?????????!!!!!!!
:rolleyes:

De Rebel

I'd respectfully suggest that the committee print the original post and send it, with a cover note on IOFFL headed paper, to the relevant government departments (Communications, Taoiseach, e-minister), with copies to both the Ministers and the Secretaries general.

These few paragraphs clearly set out what’s wrong with this country’s approach in a way that is wonderfully succinct and independent of vested interests.

If change is going to come, it MUST be driven by the government. No amount of regulating and hanging around waiting for market forces (To quote our e-minister: “ Competition among operators will help to bring prices down and improve quality of service..”) is going to get us into shape. This is a policy issue, and is something the government MUST drive.

In the thread “More GOV responses” Sceptre spoke about the government’s "New Communications" document. Section 1 of that document deals with “Telecommunications Infrastructure”. All the other sections relate to the services that will operate on that infrastructure. In relation to the rollout of Broadband, section 1.3, third paragraph (arguably third most important paragraph in the document) states “The State’s role in this area, beyond providing the appropriate regulatory environment, is confined to seed capital” Contrast that with the reported attitude and success of the Korean Government.

Berating Eircom, ESAT and the ODTR is pointless. The government are the only ones who can move this issue. And they do not appear to have grasped that fact.

Waving this under their noses might just hit the spot.

Dr99

the South Korean government provided some (GBP)1bn of funding for a new high-capacity backbone network, which meant that telecoms firms did not have to use the infrastructure of the incumbent, Korea Telecom

Now this is the way to go IMHO, solve the twin problems of Dominant Incumbent controlling the network and out dated technology.

pork99

Waving this under their noses might just hit the spot.

too subtle for the current shower

I think you need to beat them over the head with it, preferably bind it into a big fat 800 pager with hard covers

emphasise each word with a good hard blow;

why WHACK! is WHACK! internet WHACK! access WHACK! in WHACK! this WHACK! country WHACK! such WHACK! a WHACK! fecking WHACK! joke?!! etc

just might get through to them

dahamsta

why WHACK! is WHACK! internet WHACK! access WHACK! in WHACK! this WHACK! country WHACK! such WHACK! a WHACK! fecking WHACK! joke?!! etc

LMAO

adam

rardagh

Does anybody have a link to the actual report, or a copy they could post up?

Rory

Lookout

Link to story

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t412-s2123734,00.html

De Rebel

Originally posted by rardagh
Does anybody have a link to the actual report, or a copy they could post up?

Rory

Brunell Uni have a press release here. The report has not been posted but the press release states

Copies of the Brunel/DTI report can be obtained by contacting Jyoti Choudrie, e-mail jyoti.choudrie@brunel.ac.uk

In addition to the previously posted link there are also references here here and here

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

BigEejit

Well, if we are all waiting for wired broadband I dont think that we will ever reach 60% of households ... In Ireland our only hope is wireless, but that seems to be problematic in that there are no large companies .. only small companies who cant roll out fast enough to meet demand ...

MrPudding

The Korea example has been mentioned in the past. They really have made an massive effort there. It has been easier for them though. I think you will find that most if not all of the 67% live in an urban enviroment, further, you will find that most live in large appartment complexes. This makes provisioning broadband much more cost efficient and easier than it is either here or in the UK. It is nice to point to an example like that and say "look this is what it could be like" but in reality it is a very unfair and unrealististic comparison.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

yellum

Originally posted by MrPudding
It is nice to point to an example like that and say "look this is what it could be like" but in reality it is a very unfair and unrealististic comparison.

When you compare it to the conscious effort that was made to realise broadband in Korea it is not an unrealsitic comparison.

When you compare it to the intelligent way that the broadband rollout was planned and carried out it is not an unrealistic comparison.

The really high figures may not be attainable but the actual attitude of broadband availability is realistic if the government makes a proper effort.

So we can actually point to Korea and say "look this is what it could be like "

The ODTR even pointed to Korea in a recent document about broadband availability.

Dustaz

Merged with the previous comparison to korea.

MrPudding

Originally posted by yellum
When you compare it to the conscious effort that was made to realise broadband in Korea it is not an unrealsitic comparison.

When you compare it to the intelligent way that the broadband rollout was planned and carried out it is not an unrealistic comparison.

The really high figures may not be attainable but the actual attitude of broadband availability is realistic if the government makes a proper effort.

So we can actually point to Korea and say "look this is what it could be like "

The ODTR even pointed to Korea in a recent document about broadband availability.

Agreed. Please allow me to amend my stance, I still believe that there are problems with comparing the UK or Ireland to Korea. I don't think we can hope, in the forseeable future, to have the quality of DSL or anyway near the availability that Korea enjoys. The thing we can take from Korea is the attitude. The government there got it spot on, the government here just needs to learn from it's mistakes and move on.

De Rebel

67% not attainable ???

Not so sure about that - given that over 1/3 of the e-tub's population is living the the greater dublin area and another fair whack in the 100 or so urban areas that have been identified in the three phase plan for broadband there must be a reasonbale prospect of achieving somewhere around or perhaps above 50% coverage. Not geographically, but in terms of households. Not quite 67%, but in the same order of magnitude. And by using some of the other DSL technologies the range could be increased with a coresponding increase in the coverage.

The real difference isn't the fact we live low rise instead of apartment blocks, its that we as a nation don't have the vision and determination that the south korean's have.

MrPudding

Originally posted by MrPudding
I don't think we can hope, in the forseeable future, to have the quality of DSL or anyway near the availability that Korea enjoys.

The key there is "in the forseeable future." Most of the population of Ireland does live in a urban enviroment, but as I'm sure you are aware this does not mean you can get DSL. Because of the spread out nature of our cities it is too easy to be outside the radius of DSL availability. This in itself is not an insurmountable problem, it just needs will. Build more exchanges or use a technology with a better range. Both of these will be very costly. I think the most we can possible hope for in the short to medium term is a change in attitude. Besides, we already know that the gov is going to give every house a 5meg connection soon. Then we'll see how good Korea looks.:D

pork99

Besides, we already know that the gov is going to give every house a 5meg connection soon. Then we'll see how good Korea looks.

you are being sarcastic arent you?

spongebob

....will occur when McCreevey starts handing out recipes for eating your Dawg after the next budget.

M