The A to Z of wireless

C is for Caio report

The Caio report is a major government-commissioned independent review into the delivery of next-generation broadband access in the UK, published in September 2008.

The report concluded a patchwork of fixed and wireless technologies will ultimately deliver next-gen broadband in Blighty, meaning cellular networks are being lined up for a significant role in delivering future national broadband needs, alongside the likes of fixed offerings such as fibre.

The prospect of a full fibre to the home rollout is prohibitively expensive - estimated at £28.8bn - and Caio, an ex-Cable & Wireless exec, is confident that developments in wireless speed and bandwidth will mean mobile networks will be crucial to future broadband delivery.

The report states: "The speed and bandwidth that mobile networks offer today is similar to the performance of DSL… three to four years ago. Radio technology is expected to continue its progress and to deliver in three to five years speeds that can be materially higher than current access networks and, as such, can be regarded as an integral part of the NGA [next-generation access] infrastructure."

Caio also recommends the UK government accelerates the release of radio spectrum to favour the development of new wireless broadband services. Following on from Caio's report, the government's Digital Britain report makes recommendations around wireless radio spectrum modernisation to ensure there is enough spectrum to service mobile broadband and to help deliver a 2Mbps broadband to all UK homes and businesses by 2012.