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 James is Head of Programme for Communications Infrastructure and Services at techUK, and oversees 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.
Mia joined techUK in September 2023 as the Programme Manager for telecoms and net zero.
Sitting across two teams, Mia works to ensure that policy and regulatory conditions promote investment and innovation in the telecoms sector. And, that policy enables technology and digital solutions to deliver net zero ambitions.
Prior to joining techUK, Mia worked as a Senior Policy Adviser at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) leading on manufacturing and industrial decarbonisation policy.
Mia holds an MSc in International Development from the University of Manchester and a BA(Hons) in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
Outside of work, Mia enjoys travelling, running, and cooking.
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.
Matthew joined techUK in August 2023 as a Programme Assistant, supporting the Telecoms and Central Government markets, as well as the Digital Connectivity and Spectrum Policy Fora.
Before joining techUK, Matthew worked in marketing, data, and events across a number of sectors, including education and consumer goods. He studied German and Dutch at University College London and the Universiteit van Amsterdam.
Matthew Evans leads techUK’s Market Programme teams and is a member of the senior leadership team.
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.
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.
For the fourth instalment of our popular techUK CEO Talks, we are delighted to be joined by Shaheen Sayed from Accenture to discuss her journey to CEO of one of the UK's largest businesses, and how technology can build a better future for the UK’s economy, people, society, and the planet.