Smart phone ‘threat’ to digital economy

The Institution of Engineering and Technology( IET) has warned Parliamentarians, policy makers and business leaders that urgent action is needed.

“As the use of smart devices has grown so has our desire to receive instant data and communications,” said Professor Will Stewart, Chair of the IETCommunications Policy Panel.

“However, we are reaching a tipping point and we must act now and put in place radical solutions for the future otherwise the UK is at risk of losing its leading position.

“If we don’t we are likely to experience huge disruption to the network in the form of slow download speeds and an inability to connect.

“The UK, with its dynamic usage and regulatory environment, has the opportunity to lead this global advance.

“To do so will require regulators and industry to work together, with government leadership and facilitation.”

The IETsaid the huge growth in the use of mobile communications has led to an explosive growth in data being generated and accessed by mobile handsets and a radical joined-up approach is taken.

Telecoms companies across the world are struggling to carry the data volumes without having to invest on a prohibitively large scale.

The IETis proposing a new concept of user-focused Demand-Attentive Networks, which anticipate and respond rapidly to the user’s needs as they arise. This is quicker and more affordable than simply increasing bandwidth across networks.

“Demand-Attentive Networks have the potential for the UK to innovate by building the next generation high performance network infrastructure in an affordable manner that satisfies user demand, whilst keeping the digital economy running,” said Professor Stewart.