FCS UPDATE
www.comms-dealer.com
Digital Britain in focus
There is no doubt in the Government’s mind that the
communications sector – with information, energy and
financial services – is one of the pillars upon which the whole
UK economy rests, writes Jacqui Brookes, CEO of FCS.
Jacqui Brookes
I
n autumn 2008 the new
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Wireless radio spectrum telephony providers. We believe term contracts tailored to end user
Telecoms Minister, Lord modernization program: No that the competitive market has customer requirements, removing
Stephen Carter, focused his mention of spectrum auctions been a success story for the UK, the need for customers to be tied
efforts on boosting the UK but encouragement of the larger which can drive the economy up in long term commitments.
capability in digital information mobile operators’ networks forward in the post recession period
and communications and set to trade spectrum including and SMEs in particular are well FCS recommended to the
up the Digital Britain project. The realignment of the 2G spectrum placed to support their own SME Government that the SME-to-SME
project garnered the resources of held by Vodafone and O2. The customers. Wholesale Line Rental supply chain is included as an
the great and the good to form a 2.6GHz band and the Digital is one example of such success. essential element for the delivery
steering board supported by staff in Dividend spectrum are expected Although Calls and Access had a of future services. In addition
BERR, DCMS and Ofcom. The aim to be made available for next very shaky start, by end January processes, such as ease of customer
is to make the digital knowledge generation mobile services. 2009 the Office of the Telecoms migration and number portability,
economy the centrepiece of
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A digital Universal Service Adjudicator reported that there will have to be co-ordinated and
economic development in the UK, Commitment of up to 2 Mb/ were 5.56 million WLR lines delivered regulated in support of this group
as it is elsewhere in the world, and sec by 2012 delivered by fixed, by competitive companies. and others in the supply chain.
to challenge industry to respond. mobile, wired and wireless means
and how this will be funded. This impressive growth rate is Community Broadband initiatives to
In tough economic times the based on services supplied by provide local solutions through co-
Government may have to step While the Government’s emphasis competing companies of varying operatives or other groupings are
in and support industry, and it is on network roll out, FCS has sizes from large domestic suppliers well recognised. The Government
certainly needs to break down taken the view in its response to to SMEs. This developing sector has singled out the Community
the barriers to progress. The core the Digital Britain Report that, in is well placed to support the Broadband Network for support
recommendation of the project addition to network development, delivery of services from next in providing an umbrella body
is a boost to the fixed, wireless the economy will depend on generation networks. The overriding for these initiatives. FCS members
and broadcasting network delivery of wider bandwidth characteristic of the WLR evolution in this sector report that they are
capability to deliver infrastructure services to UK customers, has been access to regulated able to effectively provide fixed
capable of a universal service particularly to the business sector. product at regulated prices on line services to co-operatives but
of up to 2Mb/s by 2012. an equivalence basis, leading that there are barriers to accessing
Our member companies have to not inconsiderable gain for mobile services on similar terms.
The project issued its interim sustained the fluctuations in the Openreach and the BT Group. Regulation to facilitate access
report on 29 January setting economy over the years and to mobile networks may be the
out 22 actions of which the continue to thrive and deliver The SME supplier to SME customer sole solution to ensuring full rural
following may be of most interest service. In a recent membership relationship, such as those development and we recommend
to Comms Dealer readers: survey FCS members demonstrated delivering WLR, endures because that the Government takes into
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A new Strategy Group to assess cautious optimism about their of the flexibility of offerings and account access to mobile services
the demand side, supply side and survival in the economic downturn. excellent customer service that on fair terms and the optimum
regulatory measures to underpin Although their customers, who small suppliers offer the SME way of delivering them in the next
market led investment plans for are mainly in the enterprise and community is a generator of phase of the Digital Britain project.
broadband and remove barriers SME sector, may react to the innovation and is able to adapt
to roll out, – ie, focus is on BT and worsening economic climate to introduce new services. As The government will place all
Virgin Media and helping their and lack of investment funds, Internet Protocol networks grow, the responses to the interim
investment in the current climate. the majority of our member SME IP suppliers of telephony and consultation on the Digital Britain
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Access to ducts and other companies plan to grow their other services to business will offer website and publish its final report
primary infrastructure. businesses in the next 12 months. quick service set up and short in the summer.
n
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Looking at business rates FCS did comment and welcome
and other incentives to the Government’s intention to retain
encourage fibre roll out. a competitive communications In tough economic times
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Government to help Community market but cautioned against
the Government may have
Broadband Network’s proposals for introduction of regulatory holidays
an umbrella body to bring together for incumbents or the promotion
to step in and support industry
all local and community networks. of vertical integration among
Hugh Symons Communications
providing total support, not just handsets...
- The Mobile Solution
visit yourhsc.com
30 COMMS DEALER APRIL 2009 www.comms-dealer.com
PG 30 FCS.indd 1 25/3/09 17:15:26
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