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The UK can build 100MBs broadband without significant public subsidy

London, 26th May 2010 – Two thirds of IT professionals think that the UK can build a near-universal 100Mbps broadband infrastructure in the lifetime of this Parliament without significant public subsidy.  [Poll of 347 IT managers carried out in May 2010]. 

 

As the UK's new coalition government gets down to the task of managing the country from Westminster, the editor of the 360°IT Blog has detailed how he thinks the Government is likely to macro-manage the UK's IT industry.

 

According to Jim Mortleman - who is also an independent writer and commentator on business and social  technology issues  - the coalition’s plans for the “rapid roll-out of superfast broadband across the UK” strengthens the hand of those in Government who want to see parts of the Digital Economy Act repealed – including Nick Clegg.  The reason, says Jim, is that the network will have to be funded in large part by private investment, and leaders of key telecoms and Internet businesses like BT have publicly expressed serious misgivings with the Act and the heavy compliance costs it implies for them.

 

Jim adds he would be surprised if the Act were not significantly reworked. This, he notes, would be good news for the UK's IT industry, since getting the legal framework for digital business right - in a balanced way - is going to be critical for our future success.

 

Jim also predicts UK PLC should expect more incentives designed to drive energy efficiency and sustainability, probably implemented via the tax regime rather than heavy-handed regulation. "IT clearly has a big contribution to make here, as recent 360 IT Event blogs from Quocirca's Clive Longbottom illustrate (http://bit.ly/botRrk)," he said.

 

Jim adds there is also likely to be a significant new compliance burden placed on financial-sector IT as a result of changes to banking regulation.

 

But it’s the  public sector that should brace itself for the biggest changes, says Jim. The Government has already signalled its intention to cap projects at £100 million and encourage a wider range of smaller, more nimble projects and suppliers, including open source technologies.

 

"Public-sector IT procurement and supplier management processes will have to change significantly as a result, as will project portfolio management. Cost pressures are also likely to result in greater use of cloud-based systems and services," he predicts. 

 

Against this backdrop, the 360° IT Blog editor says  public-sector IT departments  have a lot of work ahead to create an open data landscape for Government IT to move forward.

 

"The real question, particularly in the public sector, is whether IT departments are going to be left with sufficient resources after the budget cuts to implement the necessary changes effectively," he writes.

 

"Just like the coalition itself, it's going to be a fine balancing act," he adds.

 

If you want to read more from Jim Mortleman' or comment on his 360°IT blog post visit:

http://www.360itevent.com/page.cfm/action=Archive/ArchiveID=2/EntryID=56

 

The 360°IT Blog is part of the new 360°IT - The IT Infrastructure Event, taking place on 22-23 September 2010 in Earls Court, London.  For more on 360°IT the event that demonstrates how IT infrastructure solutions can help to achieve key business objectives such as improving service, reducing cost, managing risk and gaining competitive advantage and growth visit http://www.360itevent.com

 

 

ENDS

 

About 360°IT - The IT Infrastructure Event

 

360°IT is the event dedicated to the IT community addressing the needs of IT professionals responsible for the management and development of a flexible, secure and dynamic IT infrastructure.

 

With high level strategic content, product demonstrations and technical workshops, 360°IT will provide an essential road map of current and emerging technologies to deliver end to end solutions.

 

360°IT will facilitate vendor and end user collaboration to create the IT infrastructure necessary to achieve key business objectives - improving service, reducing cost and managing risk whilst gaining competitive advantage and growth.

 

Press Contact:

Neil Stinchcombe

Eskenzi PR

020 7183 2833

neil@eskenzipr.com