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THE end of October saw the return of most of our overseas visitors, continental and otherwise, to their homes, leaving with us pleasant memories of a mutually successful visit. The Englishman's proverbial difficulties with foreign tongues, even of neighbouring France, did not complicate matters unduly or reduce too much those interchanges which conference and school afforded. We can repeat our frequently‐expressed hope that there will be an ever increasing series of visits, both of the foreigner to England and of ourselves as foreigners to other countries. We would welcome longer stays in both cases. Nothing but good can come from them.

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.