[UK] Government's £1bn rural broadband plan 'a train crash waiting to happen'

clohamon

The investigation by the NAO [National Audit Office] was triggered after Whitehall officials were told that BT could be charging a mark-up of up to 80pc to install rural broadband. BT strongly denied the claims. BT is the dominant broadband supplier in many remote areas and critics claim the market is unable to function properly to bring down prices through competition. There are also concerns that councils are not being allowed contractually to compare the prices BT is offering to connect them to broadband.


The NAO is said to be deeply critical of the “naive” approach taken by the Mrs Miller’s department, arguing it lacks transparency or competition. “They can’t judge whether there is value for money because there are no levers to check it,” said a source, adding the department will have to carry on working closely with BT because it would cost too much to rethink the programme.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/telecoms/10111607/Governments-1bn-rural-broadband-plan-a-train-crash-waiting-to-happen.html

The problem is that the EU has been holding up this BDUK scheme as a test case for umbrella schemes involving public procurement.

watty

We don't even have a train to crash

croo

Well we do have lots of gravy trains!?