"Super-fast broadband is crucial to the UK’s future. These next generation networks form part of the critical infrastructure of the country’s economy and will be central to the way we live our lives in the future.
Super-fast next generation broadband will come to change our perception of communications radically. Alongside mobile broadband, it will, in time, have a similar impact on our society and economy as first generation of broadband.
Not just in information and entertainment, but in how businesses and consumers organise themselves and interact and, increasingly, in aspects of our lifestyles such as healthcare."...
Mr Richards went on, in this speech delivered on Friday July 4 to a group of senior IT industry types, to talk about providing a suitable environment to enable investment in FTTx networks. While his comments seemed pretty clearly aimed at BT, which has been whining for ages about not seeing the business case for FTTx, his comments should also provide some comfort for others considering investment in next generation networks.