Access to the internet
This driver was written for NCVO Third Sector Foresight by Guy Yeomans.
While accessing the internet can now seem like a regular and routine part of the lives of many people, there are a number of key changes likely to emerge in the near future.
70% of households had access to the internet in 2009, up from just 26% in 2002. 63% of households have access to broadband [1]. The prominence of mobile technologies and other devices (such as digital TV) that perform internet functions will further facilitate public access to the internet. However, an estimated nine million UK homes do not have internet access and the number is falling only slowly (see digital exclusion.) Against this backdrop, the focus of internet service providers has now shifted to the actual speed of the broadband connection itself. As such, the issue of internet access will increasingly focus on the commercial, economic and policy conditions within which new fibre-based, Next-Generation Access (NGA) networks are developed and also the extent of their geographical coverage.
Market-led initiatives by current private sector companies - notably BT and Virgin Media - show they're prepared to invest heavily in building such NGA networks. However, it's expected they'll primarily concentrate on high-density, urban areas which would result in only around 60% of the UK population having access to the new service.
In 2009, the UK government responded by committing itself to two key public policy aims: providing a "Universal" broadband service offering speeds of up to 2Mbit/s by 2012 and also stimulating funding options to enable the commercial NGA upgrades. From this, a service offering speeds of up to 20Mbit/s and covering at least 90% of the country by 2017 is envisioned.
Relying on the market may not guarantee universal coverage and - while some additional provision for excluded rural areas could be delivered using mobile, wireless and satellite networks - the role of government is seen as crucial in actually achieving more comprehensive geographical coverage as well as driving take-up of these new services.
What are the implications?
- People find it easier to find others with similar interests, needs or concerns (see ease of reaching niche groups).
- The ability to provide online and personalised services. The introduction of significantly higher levels of speed and capacity could encourage a new level of digital service innovation and entrepreneurialism.
- However, uncertainty over NGA may effect the timing, design and provision of future government digital services - the "Government of the Web”.
- Increased ease of publishing online as the public is able to create their own news and set their own agendas through blogging and online forums. Enhanced capacity and speeds would allow us to push greater volumes of our own content and data out to the internet.
- Levels of digital exclusion are still likely to exist through this period. The 'price' of digital exclusion could become ever higher and marginalisation have a more profound impact.
- Access to the internet is already regarded by some as of equal importance as other utilities - “as indispensable as electricity, gas and water”. These are likely to be early adopters and advocates for improvement.
- How network operators and service providers make money may change or need to be adapted for the NGA network. This may effect the longer-term affordability of broadband services.
Moving forward
- While changes to the network won't happen overnight remember that users may seek to use other means such as mobile broadband to access the internet. Have you planned for this?
- Can your organisation reach new audiences through ICT? This could be in the form of volunteers, or donors? Can you tap into the expertise of your users to build new knowledge communities, and host and moderate online peer-to-peer services?
- Online services risk excluding some groups, and it is therefore important that the sector continues to support and combat any possible marginalisation that may occur.
- Does your organisation have a policy or strategy in place to ensures it accounts for any possible exclusion that online services might bring?
- If your membership is still effected by a lack of physical connectivity options, and this especially applies to rural areas, think about how can you keep a 'watching brief' on this issue so you're aware of how it may develop and can assess its likely implications.
Want to know more?
Delivering super-fast broadband in the UK - Setting the right policy framework
Published by: Ofcom
Date: 2008
Format: Web, video & PDF
What is it?: Background information on the consultation process for super-fast broadband.
How useful is this?: A good introduction to some of issues surrounding such a high-cost infrastructure programme for both Ofcom and the commercial vendors involved in this proposal.
Right to Reply: Next Generation Access Networks
Published by: Digital Britain / Department of Culture, Media & Sport, a government department
Date:2009
Format: Web
What is it? Each section of the interim Digital Britain report has been broken down and made separately available for comment.
How useful is this? Besides providing a more manageable way to understand the full extent of the aims of this report, this particular section contains a number of useful public comments which highlight some of the key complexity, key issues and underlying assumptions being made in the proposal for the NGA network.
Digital Britain - Final Report
Published by: Department of Culture, Media & Sport, a government department
Date: 2009
Format: Web and PDF
What is it?: The final report on the Government's strategic vision for "ensuring that the UK is at the leading edge of the global digital economy"
How useful is this?: Provides a full understanding of the scope of the government's strategy for internet access in the UK.
How online communities can make the net work for the VCS
Published by: NCVO
Date: 2007
Format: PDF
What is it? A report examining the development of online communities and social networking sites and exploring what they might mean for the VCS.
How useful is this? A useful report on how to use new opportunities presented by the Internet. This report examines how the internet is impacting on people’s relationships with each other and with organisations by looking at the development of online communities and social networking sites and exploring strategic opportunities and risks for VCOs.
ONS Quarterly internet access statistics
Published by: Office for National Statistics - a Government Department
Date: Annually
Format: Web
What is it? A summary of internet access in Britain for households and individuals.
How useful is this? A useful source for basic figures on levels of access to the internet and broadband.
References
Recent comments
Jake
I found this blog post on supply side pressures affecting internet access in Australia a useful aside:
Australian broadband not as fast as the kids would like
Véronique
Third Sector ForesightI think it’s really important for organisations to consider how their stakeholders might not have access to the internet. The internet is obviously a very hot topic at the moment and will probably continue to be a hot topic for a long time, but it’s important not to loose sight of the other ways organisations communicate and reach people. I guess it’s about being diverse…and strategic.
Karl
Third Sector ForesightI agree this is a problem, but is the access issue reaching a tipping point? The Internet World Stats website reports that 62% of the population in the UK now has web access. I think that Ofcom estimates are even higher. Worldwide, an estimated 1.2 billion people have web access.
One of the problems about the debate on internet access is that it is a very PC-centric model. I can’t pin down the research – I think it’s by Gartner – but in essence they argue that shortly more mobile phones will be connected to the interne than PCs. My guess is that the mobile phone is perhaps the most democratic, classless piece of technology in use today, whether in the UK or worldwide. So maybe the Smartphone will signal the end of the digital divide.
A second problem is that it is assumed to be a supply-side issue (i.e. supply is too limited/too expensive). But technology adoption is also a demand side issue. I wonder if some people just don’t see the relevance, or the PC/internet doesn’t fit with their lifestyle? So, for a number of years Sky’s dustbin lid was probably not bolted to many homes in Islington as it was a piece of technology with class connotations. The PS3, Xbox etc are similar bits of technology with a particular demographic. Perhaps the final point to note here is that all these devices (and your fridge too, if you fancy it) will all connect to the internet.
Nicholas
Karl’s right about the ever-increasing number of devices that enable you to connect to the internet. Convergence as the geeks call it is ever-increasing. It isn’t difficult to imagine a small device that combines phone, camera, GPS, MP3 player, digital TV, digital radio, Sky +, gaming, virtual money, and works your house key and alarm. I wouldn’t be surprised if such a thing already exists.
From RNIB’s perspective there are two risks with this (and some opportunities). One is price, which although it always tumbles as a product becomes more widely adopted, will tend to be very high upon initial launch. This is a very practical barrier to many charity beneficiaries. The other is accessibility in the sense of it being possible to use a device if you don’t have perfect vision. The internet has actually been a huge boon to many blind and partially sighted people (and I have a blind colleague who recently arrived at a meeting using a personal GPS!). But only if accessibility is built in at the outset. Things like touch-screen interfaces and on-screen menus without an audio description function are huge barriers.
So for the sector more broadly I guess the issues are price, physically being able to access such devices, the decreasing choice for those who do not wish to leap on the fancy new technology bandwagon. The opportunity is to try to work with government, designers and manufacturers to ensure that industry standards take account of diverse needs, which is exactly what we’re trying to do on various fronts.
Tony
A recent report from Pew Internet says that the internet is now a major channel of interaction for teenagers in America, I’m sure ours in the UK aren’t too far behind them. Organisations who provide support and services to this group are going to have to make sure they target their efforts to make the best use of social media and similar channels.
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How will this affect your organisation? Have you considered it during your strategic planning? Can you share any interesting relevant links?
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