BCC comments on Ofcom digital communications report

29th July 2016

Commenting on Ofcom's digital communications report, Mike Spicer, Director of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: -We have seen mounting evidence that businesses are suffering from poor service standards, 'not spots', unreliable connections, and a market structure that fails to offer competition and choice.

Any moves therefore to improve investment in digital infrastructure will be welcomed by firms that are desperate to grow and thrive. -We support Ofcom's proposal to shift away from the over-reliance on copper-based technologies, and encourage the large-scale deployment of new ultrafast networks. Businesses will welcome the move to a more independent Openreach if it delivers practical results. However, unless firms see improvements in reliability, speed and coverage, their performance, and UK productivity as a whole, will be held back. -The target of a 10Mbps Universal Service Obligation as a starting point is still not ambitious enough. This must be higher for business broadband, in order to reflect the pace of developments in an increasingly digital-first world.