Roundup- the FTIR: fit to deliver for 5G and full fibre four years on?
techUK hosted a panel on Wednesday 2 November 2022 to discuss our latest report The FTIR: Fit to deliver for 5G and full fibre four years on?
Following opening remarks by Matthew Evans, Director – Markets, techUK, the panel discussion examined the report in more detail. We were grateful to be joined by:
- Alex Blowers, Director of Regulatory Affairs, CityFibre
- Catherine Colloms. Director of Corporate Affairs and Brand, Openreach
- Ian Adkins, Principal, Analysys Mason
- Jonathan Freeman, Strategic Growth and Regulatory Director, Cellnex UK
- Alex Towers, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, BT Group
What progress has been made since the FTIR was released in 2018?
The panel began by discussing the progress made by the UK since the FTIR was published. It was recognised that the UK is on track with full fibre rollout, with the plan supporting secured investment and creating a feeling of consistency.
Since 2018, the UK has experienced numerous socio-economic shocks, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These shocks have underlined the importance of digital infrastructure to the UK economy, including the deployment of full fibre and 5G.
It was noted there has also been a change in tone since 2018, from a focus on maximising value during the rollout towards a mood that considers seeing fibre and 5G rollout as a task that needs to be completed.
There was a recognition on the mobile side that the market is changing due to the increasing potential of Open RAN and the separation of network infrastructure hardware and operator software.
It was agreed that despite the UK’s progress, the toughest parts of the rollout lie ahead.
What major challenges remain?
The panel agreed that there were still significant challenges, beyond the current economic climate of high inflation and energy costs. The two major obstacles identified were uptake rates and persistent barriers to rollouts.
Increased take up is needed to increase revenue and provide use cases for full fibre and 5G innovation. There was concern at a lack of plan for the immediate future of those products in the 5G Testbeds and Trial Programme that had not yet made it to market.
The barriers towards continued deployment to the remotest areas were discussed as well. The lack of transparency in network mapping was cited as the only part of the FTIR report that had failed to truly get off the ground. Blockages of mobile masts was also highlighted as a persistent barrier.
Aside from mapping, the continued difficulty in making business cases to reach the most remote areas was contrasted with the ‘over competition’ in urban areas.
How can these challenges be overcome?
The panel keenly emphasised the need for flexibility to overcome barriers to future rollouts. The ability for Project Gigabit to be flexible with broadband speeds, to ensure maximum coverage could be affordably rolled out, was mooted as an idea. Other ideas included the need for a combination of full fibre and mobile solutions for connecting remote areas, including possible use of satellite, to be explored on a case-by-case basis.
Government and the regulator were cited as having their own roles to play. It was thought that central government should continue with providing a stable environment for investment, especially as communications infrastructure will contribute to the high-growth, low-carbon economy of tomorrow, and accept subsidies may be needed to connect the most remote areas.
Ofcom meanwhile was recognised as having a responsibility to help direct resources to prevent under or over competition in certain areas. Like government, the panel agreed on the value of continuing to engage with industry via bodies such as techUK and its Telecoms Infrastructure and Deployment Working Group.
The panel wanted to also emphasise the need for consistent messaging from industry, particularly regarding the potential full fibre and 5G have to aid both government Net Zero goals and wider UK decarbonisation.
Increasing take-up will help ensure that projects have a faster return on investment. To increase uptake, the panel agreed that the public and local authorities needed a to show a better understanding of full fibre and 5G. Migrating the public sector over to fibre and 5G was highlighted as essential for showing these technologies are fundamentally utilitarian.
While significant progress has been made on the FTIR four years on, the largest challenges remain. However, there are ways to overcome these challenges, provided support and an open dialogue remains between government, Ofcom, and industry.
Sophie Greaves
Sophie Greaves
Sophie Greaves is Associate Director for Digital Infrastructure at techUK, overseeing the Communications Infrastructure and Services Programme at techUK, and the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Sophie was promoted to Head having been Programme Manager for Communications Infrastructure and Services, leading techUK's telecoms activities, engagement and policy development. Previously, Sophie was Programme Assistant across a variety of areas including the Broadband Stakeholder Group, Central Government, Financial Services and Communications Infrastructure programmes.
Prior to joining techUK, Sophie completed a masters in Film Studies at University College London; her dissertation examined US telecoms policy relating to net neutrality and content distribution.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 0207 331 2038
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/
Phil Reid
Phil Reid
Phil is acting Head of Telecoms and Spectrum policy at techUK, where he leads the Communications, Infrastructure and Services Programme. This focuses on promoting the benefits and innovations of connectivity and tackles the barriers of digital infrsatructre rollout.
Phil's background lies in public affairs and policy, supporting numerous organisations to navigate their policy landscape, build their political profile and engage on key issues with impact. His previous roles were predominantly in consultancy but he has also had extensive experience in establishing and manging both trade bodies and campaign groupings; leading their secretariat functions as well as their public affairs and communications activities.
Telecoms has been an ever-constant sector focus during his career, covering an array of issues such as IP-migration, broadband rollout, net neutrality, telecoms fraud, network resilience and security. He has a strong understanding of the sector ecosytem, its major policy issues and has had plenty of interaction with its key stakeholders.
Outside of work, if he's not enjoying family time with his wife and two daughters, he'll be either playing or watching some form of sport.
- Email:
- [email protected]
Tales Gaspar
Tales Gaspar
Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.
In the UK and Europe, he offered consultancy on intellectual property rights of cellular and IoT technologies and on the regulatory procedures at the ITU as a Global Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
Tales has an LL.M in Law and Business by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and an MSc in Regulation at the London School of Economics, with a specialization in Government and Law.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 (0) 0207 331 2000
- Website:
- www.techUK.org
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/talesngaspar
Josh Turpin
Josh Turpin
Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.
In this role, working jointly across the techUK Telecoms and Climate Programmes, Josh is responsible for leading on telecoms infrastructure deployment and uptake and supporting innovation opportunities, as well as looking at how the tech sector can be further utilised in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.
Prior to joining techUK, Josh’s background was in public affairs and communications, working for organisations across a diverse portfolio of sectors including defence, telecoms and infrastructure; aiding clients through stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, media outreach as well as secretariat duties.
Outside of work, Josh has a keen interest in music, painting and sailing.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2038
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-turpin/
Matthew Evans
Matthew Evans
Matt Evans is techUK's Chief Operating Officer and leads our Market Programme teams.
The Market Programme teams help techUK members apply innovative technology solutions across a range of sectors, including the Public Sector, Telecoms, Climate, Financial Services and Cyber. Matt also leads our Nations and Regions work.
Matt sits on a number of industry bodies, including the UKspace Executive Committee and the Task & Finish Group on Industry Resilience for Critical Minerals. Matt has previously represented techUK on the Steering Board of the Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce, Digital Framework Task Group and the advisory board for the Prospering from the Energy Revolution industrial challenge fund.
Prior to his appointment in early 2019, Matt led techUK’s Smart Infrastructure and IoT work, as well as being CEO of the Broadband Stakeholder Group (now Digital Connectivity Forum). During this time he led the telecoms industry’s approach to lowering the cost of network deployment, played a key role in coordinating it’s response to Brexit and was closely involved in the development of the Government’s Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review. He also assisted in the development of the UK’s first secure by design Code of Practice aimed at consumer IoT, oversaw the publication of a paper outlining the tech sector’s view of future mobility services and drove engagement around the use of digital twins.
Prior to joining techUK, Matt worked in Arqiva's public policy team, across the broadcast and telecoms markets. Before that he was a researcher for an MP at Westminster.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2034
- Twitter:
- @Matthew_evs
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-evans-1349b145/