World-class broadband Available to Purchase

This paper aims to examine the aspiration to world-class broadband in a number of countries.

This study includes a review of the various approaches taken by countries, consultants and intergovernmental organisations.

The term “world class” is used relatively vaguely, without any significant link to long-term improvements in national performance, rather to an aspiration to being close to the leaders.

The use of benchmarking in lobbying needs further study, as does the quality of lobbying.

Governments need to make explicit their policy aims in addition to any world-class headline and need to aim for design improvement in their governance systems.

This is the first review of benchmarking of broadband at the national level.