Digital Inclusion
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BT and Digital Inclusion Better World BT’s Social & Environment Report BT and Digital Inclusion Providing connectivity to streamline the broadband demand registration scheme, We believe that access to information and Our main impact on digital inclusion in the UK is through speeding up the time taken to upgrade an exchange. the provision of access to the Internet for consumers and Over 320,000 people have now registered their interest communications technology can improve people’s lives. small businesses through a number of key routes: and over 44 exchanges have been broadband enabled. BT Openworld – BT’s mass-market internet division is one By opening doors to things that really matter – of the UK’s leading Internet service providers, delivering Promoting broadband broadband and narrowband services to more than 1.75 We have a target of attracting one million wholesale education, employment, entertainment and contact with million customers in the UK. A range of access packages broadband customers by the summer of 2003. In support friends and family – communications technology is an has been developed including high-speed broadband, of this, we have launched a major advertising campaign to unmetered narrowband, and pay-as-you-go services. increase awareness of broadband in 2002, to some effect. important feature of modern life. BT Wholesale – BT wholesale provides the telephone Oftel recently concluded that, “It is likely that the recent networks through which other telcommunications BT advertising campaign has impacted greatly on companies and internet service providers can deliver broadband awareness.” internet connectivity to their customers. BT Retail Trailing new access technologies and business models • Phone lines – BT provides phone lines to 19 million BT is developing new technologies and marketing residential customers. This remains the main route by approaches to reach new markets and extend uptake of ICTs. But not everybody has access to communications dimensions of digital inclusion. which residential users access the Internet with 80% of • Community Broadband BT has confirmed it will go technology or the necessary skills to exploit that access. • A ‘Hot Topic’ paper from Simon Zadek and Peter internet users continuing to access the Internet using ahead with the full national launch of its pioneering For this reason we undertake a range of activities to Raynard (published in 2001) to provide an regular dial-up services. project to bring high-speed broadband technology to promote digital inclusion and spread the benefits of our independent commentary on BT’s approach to the • BT Broadband – since July 2002 BT has been small local communities. Following successful trials in technology as widely as possible. digital divide. marketing to BT Retail customers a low-cost, easy-to- eight sites across the country in England, Wales, In order to achieve this goal, the technology must be of • A more recent paper from Maya Forstater, Peter install broadband product, which is integrated within Scotland and Northern Ireland, ‘ADSL Exchange the right sort, people need to know how to use it and it Raynard and Simon Zadek (published in June 2003) to people’s existing telephone bill. Activate’ will be available commercially from July must deliver useful information, advice and content. provide commentary and analysis on progress made • Developing a home network, computer and support 2003. The scheme involves a sponsoring body that All these three issues must be addressed if by BT subsequent to the ‘Hot Topic’. package to make getting a computer and getting has a social, development or commercial interest in communications technology is to deliver the services • Our digital inclusion campaign. online trouble-free. bringing broadband to specific areas. The sponsor people require: • The relationship between broadband and digital • BT Retail also delivers connectivity and IT services to pays a lump sum to get groups of 30 customers • Connectivity – access to communications technology inclusion. small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and larger connected to asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) • Capability – the ability of groups and individuals to • BT’s position statement on the digital divide. organisations in the private and public sectors. equipment for a three-year period. use technology Over the past two years, prices for broadband and • Midband BT announced in April 2003 its new high- • Content – the type of communication and the way it is BT activities narrowband internet access have fallen, further speed internet service, BT Midband. Designed to meet used for social and economic benefit. Our core business activities, policy influence and social incentivising connectivity. a need for higher-speed internet access for customers This section contains a range of information and investment each contribute towards the connectivity, content living in areas where broadband is not yet available, perspectives on the BT approach to digital inclusion: and capability dimensions of digital inclusion in the UK. Rolling out broadband the Midband service will start on 1 June 2003 and be • A table setting out BT’s business activities, policy The table below highlights some of our key initiatives Broadband is a key strategic focus for BT. Moving towards available to 97% of the UK population. BT Midband is influence and social investment that contribute and policies, which are introduced in more detail in the greater availability of broadband is not the same thing as an interim alternative, high-speed (128k) internet towards the connectivity, content and capability case study boxes which follow. closing the digital divide – though it can be very important access solution for instances where broadband (ADSL) to social inclusion issues, especially in rural areas. is not yet available in customers’’ local exchange area, We have a roadmap in place to extend broadband or if they live over 5.5 km away from it. Core Business Capacity building & Social investment availability to 90% of homes and small businesses by • BT Home Computing (www.bt.com/homecomputing) – policy influence 2005. By March 2003 we had upgraded 1,167 exchanges, is a complete package covering PC choice, installation Connectivity (access to comms Providing connectivity Working with Regional Working with Citizens Online to making broadband available to 67% of UK households. by a BT engineer and ongoing support. It aims to help technology) Development Agencies to make get ‘Everybodyonline’ Work is currently under way at a further 247 exchanges to customers get the most out of home communications Rolling out broadband rural broadband access enable them to offer ADSL. without needing to be technology experts. achievable Providing free PCs and Trialing new technologies and connection to community groups In June 2002, we announced the introduction of a new • Internet kiosks (www.payphones.bt.com) BT operates products Contributing to the public debate and charities broadband registration system that enables consumers 77,000 payphones, the largest network in the UK. who cannot get ADSL services to register their interest. There are currently more than 1,200 BT internet Content (the ability of groups Creating and Enabling Contributing to the public debate Supporting voluntary sector and individuals to use comms Commercial Content content The registration scheme covers the whole of the UK and kiosks offering internet access, e-mail and text technology) we have set a trigger level for over 800 exchanges at which messaging as well as phone calls, with a total of Enabling the development of Recognising good practice it would become economically viable to broadband-enable 20,000 planned by 2007. e-learning through the eWell-Being awards the local exchange. Capability (the type of Working with Regional Enabling the development of Working with Citizens Online to In January 2003, we announced changes to our information accessed) Development Agencies to make e-learning get ‘Everybodyonline’ registration scheme, following a review of the costs of rural broadband access achievable Providing free PCs and enabling exchanges. This review has enabled us to reduce Enabling the development of connection to community groups the trigger levels at 388 exchanges and to set trigger levels e-learning and charities for a further 87 exchanges. We have also announced plans R QUA L R QU A L E I T E I T T Y T Y I S I S G A G A E S E S R S R S U U S S R ’ R ’ A A D D Y Y N N O O C C L L E E Information and data on this page has been verified by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance Ltd. Information and data on this page has been verified by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance Ltd. L L • • A A A1000 AS A1000 AS Working with Regional Development Agencies to make Providing free PCs and connection to community groups non-subscribers, alongside links to other educational Recognising good practice rural broadband access achievable and charities [www.communityconnnections.com] sites such as GridClub, NGfL, museums and others. We sponsor SustainIT’s (www.sustainit.org/ewell- To enable more SMEs to benefit from ADSL technology, BT BT Community Connections offers community and In addition, we are involved in pushing forward being/ewb_awards.htm) E-Well-Being awards which is working with several public and private bodies to develop voluntary groups and organisations the opportunity to development and innovation in the field of e-learning – for identify and promote organisations and initiatives which demand-led projects to bring broadband to regions of the connect to the Internet. The awards scheme, in its second example, we support the ICT in Education awards which use ICT to create environmental, economic and social UK where deployment would otherwise be uneconomic. year, is giving out more than 1,700 internet-ready PCs to identify and promote best practice. benefits. The awards are an important part of our One key example of this approach is the ACTNOW community groups across the UK.