Our world is changing, and communications are central to this change. Digital media have revolutionised the information society. Multi-channel television will soon be available to all. More and more people can gain access to the Internet, through personal computers, televisions, mobile phones, and now even games consoles. The choice of services available is greater than ever before. High-speed phone lines, cable modems and satellite dishes give households a whole new range of communications services and experiences. Using their TV sets people are able to email, shop from home, and create their own personal viewing schedules. The communications revolution has arrived.

We want the widest possible access to a choice of different and high-quality communications services. We can all gain something from these new services - as citizens, parents, workers, students, and consumers. We want every section of our society to have the benefits of these services, and use them to the full.

Full details of the Government's goals for e-communications were set out in 2000 in the White Paper A New Future for Communications available from the Download Centre.