Digital revolution must be open to all

Adoption of broadband in the UK is rising, according to figures published by telecoms regulator Ofcom.

In an international study of countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the UK rated fifth, with 39 per cent of homes now having a broadband connection.

The UK came behind Holland, with 58 per cent of homes now with broadband; Sweden in second place with 45 per cent; Japan with 44 per cent; and Spain in fourth place with 41 per cent of homes connected.

There is an argument that broadband in the home extends the digital gap between the wealthy members of society and less affluent citizens.

Figures published at the beginning of the year by broadband specialist Point Topic show that high-speed access is skewed in favour of prosperous, urban areas.

The research concluded, rather unsurprisingly, that poorer families are much less likely to have broadband than their wealthier neighbours.

Such findings lend themselves to the argument that broadband is elitist and creates divisions.

But new evidence – in the form of the initial results of a national scheme to offer parents the opportunity to apply for secondary school places online – seems to counter this.

The eAdmissions National Project has been an overwhelming success, with results far outstripping expectations (Computing, 30 November).

Overall, 133 of the 150 local authorities in the scheme met or exceeded the first-year target of processing five to 10 per cent of applications online for children starting secondary school next autumn.

The councils with the highest take-up were Hackney, Hertfordshire and North Somerset, with e-application rates of 81 per cent, 68 per cent and 65 per cent respectively.

Schools in Hackney, for example, have made their computers available for parents to apply online, making broadband accessible to everyone.

While high-speed access at home is inevitably going to be more prevalent among the rich, it is not necessarily deterring the less wealthy from using the technology and taking advantage of the digital revolution.

It is wrong to assume that anyone who does not have broadband does not want it.

That is why schemes such as the one making broadband available for free in all public libraries are crucial if we want to promote inclusion and ensure that everyone can take advantage of the benefits of the technology.