The Telecoms Infrastructure Working Group is the home of telecoms infrastructure deployment at techUK, covering fixed and mobile infrastructure. The Group focuses on the deployment of fibre and radio, including 5G, networks through engagement and collaboration with local authorities.
Led by our Chair Nick Wiggin, Head of Partnerships at Freshwave Group, this meeting will kick off our work for 2024, with a chance to feed into the updated work plan and hear from a stellar lineup of presenters from industry and government.
This Working Group comes together at a timely moment, with ongoing change in the market, business costs continuing to bite and an expected General Election this year. With the right infrastructure, policy, and frameworks in place, there continues to be an opportunity for the telecoms sector to drive further connectivity and productivity for the UK economy and society. We know that networks enable voice, video, and data transmission, facilitating human socialisation and information exchange for social inclusion, connection, work efficiency and entertainment.
Agenda (subject to change):
14:00 - 14:05 Welcome and introduction from Chair (Nick Wiggin, Head of Partnerships, Freshwave Group)
14:05 - 14:30 Connected Nations Report 2023 Findings Overview (James King, Samuel Furneaux, Esther Kithuka, Ofcom)
14:30 - 14:50 NUAR Update (Stephen Thorp, Geospatial Commission)
14:50 - 15:10 National Infrastructure Commission Update on NIA 2 (Aidan Irwin-Singer, National Infrastructure Commission)
15:10 - 15:15 Break
15:15 - 15:35 techUK Policy/Spring Statement Update (Neil Ross, Associate Director - Policy, techUK)
15:35 – 15:55 Member discussion on workplan and deliverable(s)
15:55 –16:00 AOB and meeting close from Chair (Nick Wiggin, Head of Partnerships, Freshwave Group)
Sophie Greaves
Sophie Greaves
Sophie Greaves 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.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2038
- Twitter:
- @SJMJames1
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/
Jaynesh Patel
Jaynesh Patel
Jaynesh Patel is Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy, leading the Communications Infrastructure and Services Programme at techUK and overseeing the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Jaynesh has extensive experience in the sector, having worked for CityFibre (a full fibre broadband company) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) on digital infrastructure policy. Most recently Jaynesh led on policy and public affairs in the UK and Ireland for ChargePoint (an EV charging network).
Prior to this Jaynesh worked in the Cabinet Office for more than five years, including over two years at the Government Digital Service (GDS) supporting the digital transformation of UK Government.
Jaynesh has a BSc (Hons) in Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE).
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayneshpatel/
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
