Today's "Digital Britain" announcement was a huge disappointment. Britain has some of the strongest creative industries in the world (film, TV and music etc) and also some of the slowest broadband speeds. But if we are to capitalise on our ability to make digital content, our companies also need a home market capable of distributing it. Today's announcement was supposed to address that problem - instead, after 9 reviews today's one simply announced a futher 8 consultations. Even by New Labour standards this really takes the biscuit for dithering and indecision.
The tragedy is that many in the industry hoped the new broadcasting minister Stephen Carter would get a grip and show leadership. Instead, as France, Germany and the US lay fibre optic cable to people's homes, we are stuck in the information slow lane - or will be until there is a Conservative government. David Cameron has pledged that a future Conservative government will aim to get superfast broadband to the majority of the population within 5 years. After delivering the satellite and cable revolution last time, it looks like it will once again be a Conservative government that takes Britain's digital industries forward.
