Broadband access and uptake may be restricted due to wireless connection laws

Industry experts have recently expressed concern that broadband access and take up in the UK could be restricted as a result of laws relating to sharing wireless connections.

Using wireless broadband connections has become increasingly popular in the UK, particularly amongst those that are using their connection from a fixed location but do not want to be tied to a particular area of that location, as they would be with fixed line broadband. However, the government and industry groups such as Internet Service providers want to crack down on illegal wireless connection sharing.

A recent report has claimed that the laws relating to wireless networks being illegally shared could have a serious and profound impact on broadband take up and access. The claims were made in a report entitled Law in the Last Mile: Sharing Internet Access Through WiFi, which was released following a study carried out at the University of East Anglia.

The report claims that if people were given increased freedom to share their wireless broadband connections the take up of broadband services could be far greater, but because of the legalities involved in what is known as illegal wireless sharing many people may be put off from opting for broadband.

One official said that laws needed to be clarified, as sharing a network had its definite advantages but consumers were nervous in case they were breaching laws relating to shared access. He said: “If the legal environment was more favourable to sharing it would play an important part in achieving the Digital Britain aim of inclusion and social goals of increased access.”

Source – Cable.co.uk