Next Generation Broadband Access - Building the Case
Event Info
Description
This event gives you the opportunity to have your say on what the
future of Broadband services should be in the north west, a highly
topical subject at the moment in the light of the “Digital Britain”
report. Whether provider or potential user of this new level of
broadband service, we would very much welcome your views and feel that
you could contribute greatly to the success of the event. At the same
time, this provides you with the opportunity to shape the future of
broadband to meet the needs of your business
BACKGROUND
As
the speed of broadband has risen over the past ten years, services
available have also kept pace, with email and web browsing giving way
in bandwidth terms to music downloads, live TV, interactive gaming and
peer-to-peer services. In turn, it’s these new services that have also
placed higher demands on broadband access for higher download speeds
and increased mobility. It is becoming clear that current mainstream
access speeds, whatever the operator or technology, are unlikely to be
able to provide the variety and quality of service that consumers will
require in the future. A number of operators are beginning to invest in
improved access technologies (fibre to the home and WiMax, for example)
but there is not yet a clear business case either for a particular
technology or for investment overall, nor is there a clear view of the
services that users will require once the higher speeds are available.
THE FORUM
With
73% of people now feeling that broadband is as important a utility as
electricity or water the views of users about future services are
important. This forum provides broadband users the opportunity to hear
about the future for broadband access and services and to give input on
their interests and needs. This event is one of several being held in
regions of the UK and the output will be used to inform service
providers, government and regulators about the services and packages
that people will want as higher-speed access becomes generally
available. Our presenters will set out their view of the future for
broadband technology and services. Participants will then be invited to
join the debate to help to formulate a view of the future landscape of
services by joining one of three facilitated workshop groups. The
information recorded from these groups will be combined with output
from other regions and will be used to inform the industry debate on
the technologies, architectures and industry structures needed to
deliver future services.
Chair: Philip Hargrave, CEO DC-KTN
12:30-12:45 Registration | tea and coffee
12:45-13:30 Lunch and networking
13:30-13:40 Introduction | Philip Hargrave, CEO DC-KTN
13:40-14:10 How to deliver 10Gbit/s...or perhaps not? | Ian Vance,
Amazing Communications; Chair of the UK Government’s Photonics
Leadership Group
14:10-14.30 Manchester: United Digital City | Shaun Fensom, Chairman Manchester Digital and Consultant to Manchester City Council
14:30-14.45 "Rising the Alert" losing and making money, the opportunity
for Next Generation Networks and the region | John Ridd, CEO, NWIX
Group Ltd
14:45-14:00 Refreshments
15:00-15:45 Facilitated Workshop groups: Benefits (Dennis Kehoe -
AIMES) | Commercial (David Ashmore - Metronet) | Performance (James
Blessing - ISPA)
15.50-16.30 Reports back, plenary discussion & close
16:30 Close
The DCKTN and Northern StartUp 2.0 are jointly hosting this event in Manchester