An analysis of what the DL needs must take account of the learning processes involved. Greater bandwidth will allow great improvements to the capabilities of such software.
Quality is a big issue.
There is evidence that students see good information support as enhancing the quality of their courses. This in turn can give providers who take this issue seriously a competitive edge. However the QAA guidelines on DL make little mention of the quality of information support required, and it still seems acceptable for some providers to spoon-feed their students even at PG level with self contained packs of printed material, or 'shovelware' in its electronic form. This is as much a financial issue as a cultural one. Some UK providers such as Sheffield Hallam University have gone a long way to providing that friendly, informed point of contact.