Press Releases

Wi-fi? Why Not?

18th June 2009

Niall Murphy, co-founder of The Cloud, argues that Digital Britain will fail without the mobile Internet

The Digital Britain report sets the objectives of modernising digital networks, ensuring access for all, and stimulating the development of a vibrant digital economy and social environment in Britain. The proposals put forward in the report, however, are flawed, through the limited extent to which the creation of an Internet-everywhere, ultra fast broadband mobile Internet environment will be enabled – a critical success factor for a 21st century digital infrastructure in Britain.
The report fails to address the role of wi-fi and related technologies, and to provide a framework for the availability of increased unlicensed spectrum and licensed spectrum with the capacity to provide ultra fast mobile Internet services. Wi-fi today provides simple, fast, wireless broadband and open Internet experience to millions of wi-fi-enabled devices across the UK. Millions of wi-fi networks utilising unlicensed spectrum are creating a high speed mobile Internet access network across Britain. Given Internet access by citizens in Britain during the course of the next five to 10 years will be fulfilled through handheld and mobile devices, it is crucial the Digital Britain report provides a strategy that will enable the broadest possible availability of ultra fast mobile Internet access at the lowest cost, and supporting a dynamic digital economy and environment.

Read the full article on Mobile Marketing Magazine here