AbstractMajor changes are likely to occur in the telecommunications infrastructure. Both researchers and standardisation institutes are hard at work paving the way for a Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (B‐ISDN). At one time it was widely assumed in the telecommunications world that once such a network had been established, customers would feel the need for a home network, which could be used for a wide range of purposes. However, a recent review of developments has made it very clear that the equipment which people have in their homes ‐ including telecommunications equipment ‐ falls into the category of consumer electronics. Consequently, the introduction of home networks for the private consumer will proceed in a rather less orderly fashion than telecommunications experts used to