Onzo Welcomes Call For Universal Broadband

LONDON – 3^rd JUNE 2009 

ONZO WELCOMES CALL FOR UNIVERSAL BROADBAND

Onzo, the makers of consumer-focussed monitoring systems for the home, today welcomes the findings of a panel of Government advisers, which show that UK consumers now believe that a broadband connection is as vital to their lives as electricity and water. 

Almost three-quarters of UK consumers - 73% - questioned by the Communications Consumer Panel said that having a high-speed internet connection was as important as any other utility in their home. 

For a long time Onzo has been calling for the universal provision of broadband and now hopes that the proposal will form part of Lord Carter’s Digital Britain review, which is due to be published later this month. 

Onzo calls for the many tentative aspects of the draft report, in particular questions on how the universal provision of broadband will be paid for and what the timeframe will be, to be resolved in the final version. 

Joel Hagan, Onzo’s Chief Executive, said: “It is important that these questions should be answered so that broadband provision can occur alongside the roll out of smart meters by 2020 to which the government is also committed. 

“Smart meters have the potential to be part of a hub for the provision of a wide range of beneficial services, such as home healthcare, home security and water management, but this  will not be realised without the general availability of more sophisticated ICT infrastructure.” 

He added:  “Smart meters and broadband must march hand in hand if the consumer is really to benefit from the technological revolution of the 21^st Century”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

1) For more information please contact:

Robert Clark, Onzo Communications Manager

 +44 (0) 20 3355 7025 or +44 (0) 7873 144 776

2) Onzo

Onzo is a global designer of innovative products that play a pivotal role in empowering people through knowledge and understanding.  Onzo's first product is due to be launched later in 2009.  This includes an energy display and an intelligent web-based service, which tells people in real time how much energy they are using in their home.  By providing a range of actionable information, it will be able to help consumers reduce consumption, lower their bills and curtail carbon emissions.  Onzo combines its wealth of technological and design talent with commercial acumen to produce a unique offering that helps bridge the gap between awareness and action.