ANALYSIS & OPINION: FTTH IN EUROPE


THE GOVERNMENT


HAS CALLED FOR 4G AND 5G COVERAGE FOR THE MAJORITY


OF THE POPULATION BY 2030


FOR DECADES, TOO MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED AND UNDERVALUED


programme covering nearly three hundred cities, towns and villages, and with over a million homes already able to access our world-class network, we look forward to playing an increasingly critical role supporting the levelling up mission and the UK’s wider digital transformation.’ David Hennel, business development director


at provider, National Broadband, was fairly open in his scepticism surrounding the white paper, and highlighted that all deployable solutions should be recognised. He said: ‘Te government has always had strong rhetoric when it comes to its levelling up agenda. However, when it comes to the digital connectivity of properties in rural areas, it has simply not lived up to its promises. Revised plans announced in November 2021, to provide 85 per cent of UK properties with gigabit-capable broadband, were already a regression of its original 2019 pledge to provide


www.fibre-systems.com @fibresystemsmag


this to every single property in the country, with an investment of £5bn. To be frank, this original plan was an unachievable ‘pie in the sky’ promise – but worse, the reduced objective actually risks leaving out those most in need of help. ‘Whilst it is encouraging to see mention of


continued 5G rollout which does, over time, have significant potential in improving digital connectivity in rural locations and to those most digitally deprived, it’s crucial the government looks to immediately available and viable solutions [to] help bridge the digital divide. Sadly, its ‘fibre-centric’ approach has ignored cost-effective and instantly deployable solutions, such as 4G, to provide genuinely life-changing improved digital connectivity right now to those with the poorest broadband. If this government is serious about bridging the digital divide as soon as possible, it must look to leverage all solutions available to ensure every property can experience the benefits of improved digital connectivity, instead of just catering for “the majority”.’ Representing the voice of the UK’s mobile


network providers, Mobile UK said: ‘As one of its 12 missions to level up the UK, [government] has called for nationwide 4G coverage and 5G coverage for the majority of the population by 2030. To achieve this the government must take urgent action to ensure local authorities are provided with the right on-the-ground resources to smooth roll out and create a positive investment environment to enable mobile operators to deploy its networks quickly and effectively across the country. ‘While there is a huge amount of positive sentiment towards 4G and 5G, there is also


a challenge at the local level to address the practicalities of network build. Mobile operators continue to struggle to roll out infrastructure in local areas due to difficulties with planning, a lack of coordination or priority from local authorities, and a continued lack of understanding about the benefits mobile connectivity can deliver. ‘With strained resources, many local


authorities are not allocating sufficient priority, time and people to coordinate digital connectivity strategies. A recent report from Clutons identified that only 45 per cent of councillors said their local authority had a digital strategy in place, and less than a third (31 per cent) stated that their council had assigned a dedicated role of digital champion or similar. Without local leadership and a good understanding of the benefits of digital connectivity and why it is needed, this leads to confusion, misunderstanding, ambivalence, or an outright rejection from communities of the infrastructure required to provide the connectivity. Mobile UK is calling on the government to put in place adequate funding at the local level to assist local authorities and to fund digital champions. ‘Te government must, through its Wireless


Infrastructure Review, and Ofcom’s Mobile Strategic Review, consider these changing environments to ensure those build[ing] and provid[ing] the infrastructure that underpins our connectivity – which will ultimately enable the government’s mission to level up – can continue to invest in the UK.’ If you would like to share your view on the


latest ‘levelling up’ measures in the UK, please get in touch. n


Issue 35 n SPRING 2022 n FiBRE SYSTEMS 11


TomBal/Shuterstock.com


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