Government Could Use Set Top Boxes To Provide 2mbps Broadband

There is a distinct possibility that the government will be considering using set top boxes to achieve the aim of propagating 2mbps universal broadband access across the land.

Speaking at the Broadcasting Press Guild, the Culture minister Andy Burnham said that this option would fulfill the plans proposed by Lord Carter in his Digital Britain report.

He added that "There is the potential for the switchover programme to empower people in that way through looking at the core receiver requirements. The ten per cent who haven't switched off probably don't have broadband either."

Under the Digital Switchover Help Scheme, up to £603 million from the TV licence fee are expected to be provided to people ho are expected to have the most difficulty making the switch to digital TV. Up to 7 million households are expected to qualify for the help.

It is therefore highly likely that the government will make it compulsory for the set top box manufacturers who enlist either for Freesat or Freeview as part of the DSHS, to include some broadband or internet capabilities.

Most current set top boxes from Virgin Media or Sky already have some kind of internet access features built in, especially for more advanced functions like Video on Demand.

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