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'O2 UK CEO warns disputes could threaten broadband progress'
[February 23, 2009]

'O2 UK CEO warns disputes could threaten broadband progress'


(DMeurope Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) O2 UK CEO Ronan Dunne has warned that Britain could fall behind in moving into the digital age if the industry and the regulators do not urgently settle their differences, the Independent reported. Telecom companies remain locked in talks with each other, the regulator and the government over the future of information and communications technology in the UK, such as the roll-out of broadband. Dunne said government and regulatory certainty are very important and that with little investment, there was a danger of Europe getting behind the 'investment curve'. In the search for solutions, he said that there was a demand for moving towards 100 percent broadband, so working towards that made sense. Dunne said that deployment of next-generation information and communications technology could create two million jobs across Europe and generate USD 950 billion. The mobile industry remains relatively strong despite the financial crisis, and the message at last week's MWC in Barcelona was clear. The mobile industry can use the downturn to move forward and possibly help to kick-start the recovery. Dunne said people are going to keep using mobile phones, adding that the industry has to ask how it can give them more value. The industry can make a huge impact right across the economy. He added that while mobiles were commoditised three years ago, the industry is only scratching the surface of the opportunity of what can be done.



(Distributed for DMeurope.com via M2 Communications Ltd (www.m2.com)) Copyright ? 2009 M2 Communications Ltd.

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