Inadequate broadband coverage could compromise future of e-commerce, expert warns

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - 13:19 by Sarah Collinson

An expert has spoken out about the ways in which broadband availability may directly impact the growth and economic import of safe shopping online, with comments made in the wake of eBay's recent recommendations on the spread of 4G in the UK.

Consumer Focus spokesperson, Marzena Lipman, said that there are still many thousands of people who are forced to go without high speed internet because of their location, with the most isolated communities and rural areas suffering from unfavourable coverage, while the telecoms firms and government investment focuses on ramping up connections in urbanised areas.

Lipman described the current system as a kind of broadband lottery, with no guarantees being given to those who are affected as to whether they will eventually see fast access arrive in their area.

She points out that other than ensuring an equality of access to the internet, the government could be denying consumers of the cheapest prices for goods and services, as these are often only available via safe shopping online.

There is an argument that people who live in the countryside are actually better equipped to benefit from fast broadband because they will not live within easy reach of high street stores and other essential amenities which those who live in towns and cities take for granted.

A number of roadblocks to rural broadband coverage exist, with the main one being investment because it is not financially beneficial for providers to install the necessary framework in areas of low population density.

Ideally the government will put up the cash to make sure that these essential networks are constructed and there is a chance that erecting 4G ready masts will potentially be cheaper than laying mile after mile of expensive fibre optic cable.