CLA attacks UK broadband network

A report from Cisco and the Saïd Business School that claims the UK's broadband network is currently fit for purpose has been criticised.

Though the report concedes that there is still some way to go for broadband services to be suitable for next-generation technologies such as high definition TV, the Country, Land and Business Association attacked claims that the broadband network was good enough for now.

CLA president Henry Aubrey-Fletcher said: "While it is true that UK broadband is absolutely not fit for the future we do not agree with Cisco's comments that the UK has broadband that is currently meeting the country's needs.

"This is simply not true. Rural areas all over the UK suffer from poor broadband connections, something that is hitting rural businesses particularly hard," Aubrey-Fletcher continued.

Though BT is currently carrying out trial that should eventually see a fibre-optic broadband network connected to 10 million homes by 2012 and the Digital Britain report promises all households 2Mbps broadband by the same year, the CLA thinks the government should be aiming higher.

"The government needs to recognise that the UK must aim for up to 10Mbps broadband speeds to compete globally," he said.