Telecoms Infrastructure and Deployment Working Group
10am – 12pm20 October 2022
techUK, 10 St Bride Street, London, EC4A 4AD Online
The next meeting of the Telecoms Infrastructure and Deployment Working Group will take place on Thursday 20 October – the meeting will be hybrid, you can either book a ticket to attend in person at techUK’s offices, or online via MS Teams.
Agenda:
10:00-10:10
Welcome and introductions
Asa Caton, Business Development Director, WHP Telecoms - CHAIR
10:10-10:20
5G Rural Dorset/Wessex Digital Infrastructure Accelerator
David Happy, Managing Director, Telint
10:20-10:40
South London Partnership – Digital Infrastructure
Stacey McAdie, Digital Connectivity Lead, South London Partnership
10:40-11:00
Open discussion
All
11:00-11:20
techUK update – FTIR paper & government policy
Sophie James, Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy, techUK
11:20-11:40
2023 work plan
All
11:40-11:50
AOB
Asa Caton, Business Development Director, WHP Telecoms - CHAIR
The Working Group is led by Asa Caton, Business Development Director at WHP Telecoms Limited, and emphasises the uptake of the deployment of fibre and radio networks through engagement and collaboration with local authorities, working with techUK’s Local Government Programme, creating a forum all stakeholders to convene and share knowledge and best practice.
Our focus will be on the rollout of fibre and radio (including 4G and 5G) across the UK’s nations and regions, covering key policy from the UK Government (Project Gigabit/Outside In; Barrier Busting, reform of the Electronic Communications Code; business rates relief), and major projects like the Shared Rural Network, the Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator and Fibre in Water.
We want to ensure the telecoms industry is supported by the UK Government, as our sector makes a significant investment in advanced connectivity, and that all stakeholders and industry players are aligned on closing the digital divide between rural and urban areas.
The Working Group will also examine innovation in the telecoms infrastructure space, such as asset sharing, digital mapping, neutral host networks, and small cell deployment. Satellite will also be considered as a connectivity solution, either directly to users or as part of the backhaul solution.
This meeting is open to all techUK members engaged in the Communications Infrastructure and Services and Local Public Services Programmes. Members can view the previous minutes by signing up to the TIS WG.
For any queries related to this work group meeting, please feel free to get in touch with the below Team:
Sophie James
Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy, techUK
Sophie James
Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy, techUK
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.