Nico Macdonald

London

Writer

Horace Mitchell's comments are very useful, and they point up how little understanding there is of the characteristics and potential applications of broadband. In 2003 I researched and wrote a series of white papers for UK SMEs about the possibilities offered by broadband (available on the BT Wholesale MarketShare site www.btwholesale.com). Most broadband guidance for SMEs is thin by comparison.

However both Mr Mitchell and the Anonymous contributor missed my point that "often the demand for more bandwidth tomorrow is used to excuse the lack of delivery of compelling products and services today". Much can be done with broadband as it exists, and exploiting it fully will help us think about what we might do when we do get fibre to the office. People who whinge about the lack of bandwidth often demonstrate as little insight into the possibilities of broadband as the telcos and ISPs they attack (though I make an exception in the case of Mr Mitchell).