Future Prospects for UK Broadband and Next Generation Access

In the last ten years the Internet has revolutionised our working, social and domestic lives, to such an extent that it is now taken for granted that it will pervade and shape our futures becoming as much a utility as electricity has been for the last 100 years. It is envisaged there will be at least one ‘fast’ symmetrical connection to every place of work, learning, leisure and living in the future. The technical challenges this presents have been, and will continue to be, debated. In addition, there are considerable regulatory challenges in enabling next generation competitive, equitable, inclusive internet services to role out across the UK. In his speech Ed Richards will identify some of the key regulatory challenges for UK broadband and suggest some of the options by which they may be addressed. A Question and Answer Session will follow this speech.

Ed Richards was appointed Ofcom Chief Executive in October 2006. He was previously Chief Operating Officer where his responsibilities included strategy, research, consumer policy, business planning, finance, human resources and Ofcom’s functions in the Nations and Regions. Prior to Ofcom Ed was Senior Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister for Media, telecoms, internet and e-govt. Before that he was Controller of Corporate Strategy at the BBC. He also worked in consulting at London Economics Ltd, as an advisor to Gordon Brown MP and began his career as a researcher with Diverse Production Ltd, where he worked on programmes for Channel 4.