Chi Onwurah accuses European Commission of fibre broadband bias

The European Commission is biased towards the delivery of fibre optic broadband at the expense of other forms of connectivity, according to Shadow Minister for Innovations, Science and Digital Infrastructure Chi Onwurah.

Ms Onwurah, who is also the former head of telecoms technology at Ofcom, was asked about plans from the Commission suggesting that state aid should support fibre-to-the-premises rollouts even in areas where next-generation access is planned or already exists.

Speaking at the Global Telecoms Business Innovation Summit 2012, the MP argued that fibre is the body's preferred form of broadband infrastructure and that "they've found a way of manifesting that bias legitimately".

"I'm also concerned that lack of industrial policy and new investment may make it difficult for us to stay at the forefront," she added.

Her comments come just a matter of weeks after the Fibre to the Home Council Europe highlighted the importance of the technology by arguing that fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) broadband is on its "last legs".

Karin Ahl, the non-profit organisation's president, told Computing that FTTC is an attempt for telecoms operators to get more life out of their ageing copper-based networks.