Open Research Online The Open University’s repository of research publications and other research outputs An Examination of the Evolution of Broadband Technologies in the UK Thesis How to cite: Deshpande, Advait (2014). An Examination of the Evolution of Broadband Technologies in the UK. PhD thesis The Open University. For guidance on citations see FAQs. c 2014 Advait Deshpande Version: Version of Record Link(s) to article on publisher’s website: http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.21954/ou.ro.00009fa9 Copyright and Moral Rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. For more information on Open Research Online’s data policy on reuse of materials please consult the policies page. oro.open.ac.uk An examination of the evolution of broadband technologies in the UK Advait Deshpande Submitted in Accordance with the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The Open University Department of Computing and Communications Faculty of Maths, Computing, and Technology Abstract The aim of this thesis is to examine the reasons due to which Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) became the most widely used technology to deliver broadband connectivity in the United Kingdom (UK). The research examines the outcome starting with events in 1960s when broadband as it is defined today did not exist. The research shows that a combination of factors involving regulatory decisions, changing market conditions, and unexpected technological breakthroughs contributed to the current day mix of broadband technologies in the last mile access in the UK. To interpret the events that have shaped the development, deployment, and adoption of broadband technologies in the UK, the thesis draws from various theoretical ideas related to Science and Technology Studies (STS) to understand and analyse the events. In order to discover and establish the historical context, the thesis employs original, unpublished interviews along with the extensive use of archival material and secondary sources. Influenced by some of the core ideas of social constructionist studies, this research combines concepts from economic studies of technological change along with themes involving maintenance of technology, path dependence, and the role of bandwagon effect. These research threads are combined to understand the way development, deployment, and adoption of broadband technologies took place in the UK. The research is intended to contribute to the understanding of technology in a constantly changing regulatory and socio-economic environment and how it is shaped by multiple factors. The targeted readership is researchers, analysts, and decision makers working with broadband technology, telecommunications policy, 2 and STS. Further research is suggested in the form of studies of wireless broadband technologies and the role of regulatory policies in the development of the UK communications market. Keywords: British Telecom, Broadband, Evolution of broadband, Science and technology studies, Technological changes, UK communications industry 3 To, Gadgil Sir 4 Acknowledgements First and foremost, I want to thank my supervisors Dr. Allan Jones, Prof. Chris Bissell, and Dr. David Chapman. Without their guidance and encouragement this thesis would not have been possible. Thanks to Allan for all the weekly meetings, detailed and wide-ranging discussions on topics related to (and sometimes not related to) my work. Without Allan's timely suggestions, nuanced advice, and sometimes just kind words I could not have stayed on track. Thanks to Chris for agreeing to meet me in the first place way back in 2008 and then encouraging me to apply for the PhD despite some of the professional and personal difficulties that were holding me back. Chris' experience and insight has been crucial to this thesis. Thanks to David for all his technical inputs, advice on structuring the thesis, and the occasional discussions on football and cricket. I am grateful to other senior colleagues in the department – Karen Kear, Ian Martin, and Magnus Ramage for their support and encouragement. Karen took a keen interest in my work, offered friendly advice, and had a seemingly amazing knack for egging me on when I was flagging in my efforts. Mark Woodroffe, my third party monitor, often rallied around and offered a sympathetic ear when it all seemed too much to handle. Without his support I could not have survived the 'writing up' phase. All the departmental secretaries – Donna Deacon, Audrey Ibbotson, Danielle Lilly, Mary McMahon, Patricia Telford, and Angela Walters have been wonderful in their 5 assistance on administrative and non-academic matters. Thanks in particular to Patricia and Donna for their help when I was conducting the research interviews. The staff at BT Archives and Porthcurno Telegraph Museum was very helpful during my visits there. Charlotte Dando at the Porthcurno Telegraph Museum was of particular help and deserves a special mention. Thanks to all the past and current students in S1005 for just being there and all the relevant / irrelevant banter – Alam, Badrudozza, Bola, Catherine, Faisal, Geraud, Hnin, Parminder, Richard, Smarti, and Trish. Special thanks to Trish for her constant encouragement during the early part of the 'writing up' phase and her feedback on my writing. I hope to return the favour starting from October 1, 2015. I would also like to thank Simone Arthur and her husband Diego Saiz-Gonzalez for my comfortable stay at 16 Perivale throughout the last 3.5 years. My housemates at 16 Perivale – Adam, Amy, Catherine, Darius, Ellies, Fook, Inga, Mala, Maria, Murilo, and Richmond have been just the right kind of mates one needs during the good, the bad, and the ugly times. My parents Seema and Ramesh Deshpande have been terrific with their support back home. If it were not for them, I would not have been able to leave everything behind and pursue a PhD. My grandmother Sumati Kulkarni completed her PhD at the age of 50 and has been a lifelong inspiration. My aunt and uncle Anagha and Jaideep Dudhbhate provided the initial spark of encouragement and support when I was unsure about whether to pursue a PhD. My friends Amruta Borwankar and 6 Ashish Jain have always been there for me on every occasion I needed it. Above all else, thanks to Tejaswini for her patience, kindness, understanding, and for being my partner in crime. Finally, I would like to thank the interview participants who gave me their valuable time. Without their insights, this thesis would have remained a pipe-dream. 7 Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................2 Acknowledgements .........................................................................................................5 List of Figures................................................................................................................. 15 List of Tables.................................................................................................................. 15 Abbreviations and Acronyms........................................................................................ 16 1 Introduction.................................................................................................................24 1.1 Background............................................................................................................24 1.2 Broadband – meaning and evolution...................................................................26 1.3 Current research and the scope for this study ....................................................27 1.4 Thesis overview.....................................................................................................29 1.5 Summary ...............................................................................................................36 2 Research questions, objectives, and methodology....................................................37 2.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................37 2.2 Addressing a gap in knowledge...........................................................................37 2.3 Relevance of the research ....................................................................................39 2.4 Unit of analysis..................................................................................................... 41 2.5 Selection of UK as a region of study................................................................... 44 2.6 Research questions and objectives......................................................................45 2.6.1 The first research question........................................................................... 46 2.6.2 The second research question ......................................................................47 2.7 Research methodology.........................................................................................47 2.7.1 Archival research and secondary sources .................................................... 49 2.7.2 Semi-structured interviews...........................................................................56 2.8 Summary ..............................................................................................................62 8 3 Literature review.........................................................................................................63 3.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................63