CLA encourages BT to upgrade current broadband infrastructure

February 11th, 2010

CLA encourages BT to upgrade current broadband infrastructure

The CLA today (9 February 2010) welcomed BT’s announcement to open up its underground duct routes for sharing with other infrastructure providers to extend high-speed broadband coverage.

The rural economy experts said that any opening of the market to encourage competition would be beneficial to all. However, the Association said BT should bring the rest of the infrastructure up to speed first before rolling out a shared underground duct network.
CLA president William Worsley said: “We are certainly pleased that the infrastructure providers have recognised the importance of superfast broadband to the economy. They must also accept that this fundamental service is needed equally in urban and rural areas.”

He added: “With 20 percent of rural England and Wales still without access to effective and adequate broadband, infrastructure providers must take one step at a time to ensure the basics are in place. The vast majority of the current infrastructure must be brought up to scratch before superfast broadband can even be contemplated.”

UK online shoppers ’spend most in Europe’

February 9th, 2010

UK shoppers spent more online than anywhere else in Europe last year, accounting for almost a third of all European sales, research suggests.

UK consumers spent £38bn online in 2009, or an average of £1,102 per shopper, according to the Centre for Retail Research (CRR).

Online sales now account for almost 10% of total retail sales in the UK, the centre calculates.

It added that internet shopping would continue to grow sharply this year.

The centre foresees total online sales hitting £42.7bn in 2010.

Big discounts

“This year is when we will really start to see online sales achieving a significant share of overall retail trade in the UK,” said Bruce Fair, managing director of online shopping and price comparison site Kelkoo, which commissioned the research.

He added that online shoppers were growing in confidence, with the proportion of them prepared to spend more than £1,000 or more on a single transaction rising from 12% in 2008 to 25% in 2009.

The recession, from which the UK has only recently emerged, helped to explain the increase in online shopping, he argued.

“In these hard times, it is no surprise that shoppers are turning to the internet rather than the High Street, especially when you consider that purchasing items online can result in savings of 20% or more,” Mr Fair said.

Germans were the next most prolific spenders online last year with a total spend of £29.7bn, while the French spent £22bn, the research indicates.

Taken from BBC News website. online shopping

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