Brighton became a broadband battleground at the international communications industry's showcase.
E-Envoy Andrew Pinder gave an upbeat assessment of the UK's broadband revolution in his keynote speech opening the TMA 2002 convention.
But other delegates, including the chairman of the show's organisers, the Communications' Management Association (CMA), were critical of the Government's role in promoting broadband.
Mr Pinder, who is responsible for the roll out of the system around the country, said the number of consumers getting high-speed connections was growing exponentially and the market was beginning to see a recovery.
However, at the CMA's opening night dinner, chairman Carolyn Kimber said: "The gastropodic pace of broadband rollout in the UK is nothing short of shameful and we must do something about it."
She criticised the Government's hands-off approach and said: "It just isn't enough to adopt some form of woolly co-operation with industry and the regions and hope that, somehow, the realities of market forces will be cowed into submission.
"The Government needs to adopt the role of national broadband champion, with the goal of achieving universal access."
Ms Kimber's speech reflected the views of a number of delegates at the show, which featured a Broadband FeatureZone to provide advice for businesses about how the system could give them a competitive edge and reduce costs.
Despite the controversy and although it used both the Hilton Metropole and The Grand hotels, this year's conference was noticeably smaller and quieter than in previous years, when flashy cars and promotional literature were much in evidence.
The Brighton Centre, used for last year's exhibition when an estimated 17,000 people attended, was not required this time.
Richard Poyser, vice president of technology and solutions for Brighton-based mobile commerce specialists Danet, which has exhibited at TMA for many years, said:
"The conference used to occupy three buildings and there were marquees on the seafront but it seems to have contracted every year.
"We expected it to be a bit of a squeeze in the Metropole because the Brighton Centre wasn't been used but, even so, there were gaps, which surprised us.
"We saw a lot of the same faces and got some leads but we might just visit next year, rather than display."
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