Yearly Archives - 2024

On 11th December, the Digital Connectivity Forum held the formal launch of its new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group.  The launch was held at the House of Commons, kindly hosted by Chi Onwurah MP (Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee).

The Working Group has already received significant interest from senior leadership across the industry, including support from Ofcom with Dame Melanie Dawes as Patron and its joint chairs Belinda Fawcett, Director of Property & Estates and General Counsel at Cornerstone and Michael Salter-Church MBE, Director of External Affairs, Policy and Sustainability at Openreach. 

Dame Melanie Dawes gave a keynote speech at the group’s launch, explaining that organisations can only succeed if they represent and understand the communities they serve across the country. She focused particularly on the importance of gender balance and overcoming historical perceptions and industry bias.

STEM subjects, including engineering, have traditionally attracted male candidates. This means that progress will not only involve reshaping the image of telecoms but also overcoming historical perceptions of a traditionally male dominated field.

Dame Melanie also noted that we now stand at a turning point, a sentiment that was echoed by Jordan Wood from Opinium. There is a real sense that industry can come together to tackle this image problem. This can be done through strategic conversations, targeted outreach and thorough reviews of individual needs as part of recruitment and retention. To do this, companies may need to work together to develop those skills and talent.

Ofcom is already leading great work in this area, including its Ofcom Women in Tech Pledge. The DCF Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group will work closely with this initiative in 2025.

The evening also featured a keynote address from Chi Onwurah MP, who remarked on the history of Parliament itself being indicative of social challenges and a male dominated, or male exclusive, field. This look at history reminds us of where we have been and where we hope to go in diversifying opportunities for everyone.The Working Group’s formation follows a 2023 Opinium report, which was commissioned by the Digital Connectivity Forum at the request of the then Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It presented interesting findings in its assessment of diversity across UK telecoms.

While the report showcased progress that has been made by the sector in recent years, it also highlighted areas where further progress needs to be made. Including a continued lack of gender diversity across senior roles.

Jordan Wood, Research Director at Opinium, provided remarks outlining the 2023 report’s findings. Jordan shared that many organisations have made substantial efforts to promote inclusivity, with examples such as the introduction of unconscious bias training, flexible working arrangements, and the celebration of diverse cultural backgrounds. Also referenced was the increase in mental health initiatives and wellness programmes, which are gaining momentum and demonstrating a holistic commitment to employee well-being.

However, it was also clear that challenges persist. With research showing that only one in three employees are aware that their company has an active diversity and inclusion culture, it is evident that buy in and promotion of these programmes are not where they could be. Research also showed that gender diversity in telecoms significantly declines as employees move into senior positions; women are well-represented (at nearly 50%) in entry-level positions, but hold only a third of director- and board-level roles

Discrimination was also noted as a concern. Opinium research suggested 30% of employees had reported instances of discrimination, and that this number was even higher among women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities. Those with long term disabilities are also less represented across the telecoms sector, compared to the wider UK workforce.

To address the gaps identified in the report, the new Working Group will focus on diversity, equity and inclusion across all protected characteristics and other important areas, including socio-economic background.  It will begin work in 2025 and will champion the delivery of action orientated plans to drive progress for industry and individuals.

The Group will focus on four pillars of delivery and engagement:

Listening to understand challenges and plan solutions.

Delivering pragmatic and action orientated plans to drive progress for industry and individuals;

Collaborating with existing industry organisations and groups;

Focusing on broad diversity and inclusion, including all protected characteristics and other important areas including socioeconomic background;

The evening concluded with a panel, which was chaired by Chair of the Digital Connectivity Forum, Stephanie Liston and featured industry experts:

• Nihal Newman, Director of Network Security, Ofcom
• Tim Creswick, CEO, Vorboss
• Belinda Fawcett, Director of Property & Estates and General Counsel, Cornerstone
• Michael Salter-Church MBE, Director of External Affairs, Policy, and Sustainability, Openreach
• Catherine Page OBE, Deputy Director of Future Telecoms, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Key areas raised by panellists and audience Q&A included:

Does telecoms have an image problem? – Despite being an essential component of our everyday lives, telecoms infrastructure is often misunderstood or overlooked. This misunderstanding extends to the workforce.

How do we ensure that telecoms is viewed as a dynamic, exciting and future thinking space for everyone?

Recruitment and Retention – The image of telecoms is a vital part of ensuring that the sector has a stable pipeline of top talent. However, ensuring recruited talent remains within the industry is critical to long term success. It is also a clear indicator of inclusivity success. Low staff retention rates may be a sign that there is a work culture issue driving people away from a business or a sector.

How do we ensure that we create environments that encourage recruited talent to stay?

Social mobility as part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion picture – Telecoms, and the wider connectivity sector, has an impressive potential to succeed in diversity, equity and inclusion. Social mobility and socio-economic background are not protected characteristics but are a critical part of the wider DEI picture. Statistics shared at the launch event panel suggested that only 9% of tech staff come from working class backgrounds, a number which is lower than law, banking, and general society.

How do we ensure that telecoms careers are accessible to everyone?

The importance of language – The language we use matters. Whether this is how we speak about roles and responsibilities, how we communicate within the workplace to ensure that others are not unintentionally ostracised or made uncomfortable, or how we talk about diversity, equity and inclusion itself. Language and approach will be critical. At the launch panel, work conducted by Openreach on the language used in job adverts was shared. Findings from this indicated that the language and criteria phrasing was inadvertently off-putting, particularly to female candidates. This work showed that, while female candidates were interested in the prospect of a career in telecoms, this was not translating to applications.

How do we talk about telecoms, and about DEI, in a way that promotes accessibility for everyone?

Equity and the importance of the individual – The anchor point of inclusion is equity. Historically we have become socialised with the concept of equality. However, whilst equality was a necessary starting point, we must now begin to engage with and work towards the concept of equity. Placing the needs of the individual at the forefront, and creating environments where people feel empowered to raise those needs safely and confidently.

How do we create teams and environments that not only champion diversity but empower individuals to speak up where they have needs. And do this with the confidence that those needs will be listened to fairly and understood?

Broadening focus – Research has shown that the telecoms sector is lagging in disability representation. It also shows that speaking up is not easy or common when it comes to needs or accommodations. The panel shared the example of the many colour-blind engineers in telecoms, who were unseen until the culture of embracing the individual empowered individuals to ask for the help they need. This accommodation benefits the individual and it benefits the business. There was a call at the panel to aim the focus less around a disability label and more about how to accommodate specific needs – shifting the focus from diversity metrics to inclusion.

What can be done to make sure the industry is delivering inclusivity for everyone? Including disability, neurodivergence and other areas that may require targeted understanding.

As autumn begins to blend into winter, and we begin to turn our thoughts towards the festive season, it has remained a characteristically busy period for industry, Government and regulators across the telecoms space. 

In a period that saw a Halloween eve Autumn Budget, indications that an industry shakeup mega merger could get the green light , and the US elections, there is a lot to digest ahead of the Christmas break. The Digital Connectivity Forum has been hard at work, considering what these new changes mean for the industry, as well as championing new and ongoing work across a variety of other important sector specific challenges. 

During October, the Digital Connectivity Forum held two important workshops, focusing on local authorities as connectivity enablers and the resilience of networks. With topics ranging from how to improve communication and engagement, planning barriers, climate resilience, accidental damage, deliberate physical attack and future threats such as supply chain resilience, there was an abundance of fascinating conversation as we align on ways to drive industry progress and unlock the societal value of quality connectivity for everyone. 

The workshops both involved key stakeholders across industry, Government and Ofcom, as well as other workshop specific attendees, including local authorities and relevant trade associations. 

In addition to our focus on local authority engagement and resilience, work has been ongoing for the launch of our upcoming Diversity & Inclusion Working Group, which will be formally launched on 11 December. 

Diversity & Inclusion remains an important topic in telecoms. Following the release of our 2023 report, ‘Diversity in Telecoms’, which was commissioned at the request of DCMS, we saw that the report’s assessment of diversity across UK telecoms highlighted areas that need support. In addition to this, it highlighted data gaps and areas that need greater understanding. 

In response to this, we decided to launch a working group that is dedicated to tackling inclusion across all protected characteristics, as well as those which are not protected, and yet form a critical part of the diversity & inclusion picture, such as socio-economic background. 

Ensuring true, and universally embedded, inclusion across the sector is something the Digital Connectivity Forum is passionate about, and we cannot wait to get to work on these valuable and important areas. 

We are delighted to announce that Dame Melanie Dawes, CEO of Ofcom will be joining as the group’s patron, and we are delighted to work with her and the group members to bring you future updates on our activity as we raise the profile of diversity whilst building practical routes to inclusion success. 

Government News

The release of the Autumn Budget brought with it announcements that will impact telecoms and wider industries. It confirmed that the new Government will be investing over £500 million across 2025 to 2026 as part of the delivery of the ongoing Project Gigabit and Shared Rural Network programmes. This marked a continued commitment to ensuring connectivity to remote and underserved parts of the UK, and the upholding of the target for full gigabit broadband coverage by 2030. 

Rises to employer national insurance contributions will be a change that is felt not only across telecoms but wider business, as employers adapt to these significant changes to their tax burden. It remains to be seen how this will impact future spending and investment. 

On 23 October, Government released an update to its final stage impact assessment of the Online Safety Act, which was first published in 2022. The update comes as Ofcom recently released an update on its work to implement the Online Safety Act, including timeline updates on phased rollout between 2024 and 2026 and that, as of December 2024, services will need to act to comply with their duties as outlined by the Online Safety Act.  

The Government update reflects several major policy changes made during passage of the Online Safety Bill. 

Finally, on the 11 November, Government published an update to the projects selected for the Rural Connectivity Accelerator programme. The programme seeks to identify projects that will enhance overall understanding of the connectivity needs of businesses across rural and very hard to reach parts of the UK. 

To do this, pilot projects will consider various challenges and solutions, including the exploration of existing barriers to deployment and adoption, as well as connectivity solutions, such as alternative methods of delivery, including broadband, satellite and wireless. 

As the UK shifts to a more online consumption pattern, Government has published a report looking at the ‘Future of TV distribution’. The report examines areas including the changing habits of UK viewers, as well as their platform choices and how a changing society and digital shift is changing the way we consume our media. It looks to predict how these changes will look by 2040, including estimating that, based on current market dynamics, by this time 71% will rely exclusively on internet delivery for their TV. This increasing reliance on internet for TV consumption will in turn have effects on demand and the importance of quality connectivity availability and reliability. 

Regulatory News

Ofcom has announced its final draft auction regulations for a plan to auction off millimetre wave (mmW) radio spectrum frequency across the 26GHz and 40GHz bands. This spectrum will be used by mobile operators in the delivery of faster 5G services. 

The auction process had originally been delayed as Ofcom waited for the result of the proposed merger between Vodafone and Three. It will see the awarding of several 15-year, fixed term licenses for high density areas across 68 UK major towns and cities, alongside some smaller low-density allocations within the cities through the Shared Access licensing framework. 

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has provided an indication that the merger of Vodafone and Three may be given the green light with the publication of its Remedies Working Paper.  

Following initial competition concerns identified by the CMA in September, the paper sets out the CMA’s provisional views on the subsequent remedy package proposed by Vodafone and Three.  

The commitments included: 

• Agreeing to make their network coverage commitments legally binding with this being overseen and enforced by Ofcom 

• Agreeing to sell spectrum to Virgin Media O2 upon approval 

• Maintain tariffs at £10 or below for two years from the completion for social tariff customers 

• Providing reference offers that encourages MVNOs to access additional network capacity 

The provisional indication from the CMA comes ahead of the 7 December deadline and suggests that the CMA believes that the proposed commitments “could solve competition concerns identified in September and allow the merger to go ahead.”. 

However, the Paper included several short-term protections proposed ‘to ensure that retail consumers and mobile virtual network operators can continue to secure good deals. These included proposals that would require Vodafone and Three to: 

• Deliver their joint network plan as part of a legal obligation overseen by Ofcom and the CMA. 

•  Commit to retain certain existing mobile tariffs and data plans for at least 3 years,  

• Commit to pre-agreed prices and contract terms to ensure that Mobile Virtual Network Operators can obtain competitive wholesale deals. 

The deadline for a final decision remains set at the 7 December. 

As the December deadline approaches for the implementation of the Online Safety Act, Ofcom issued an update on the 26 October, highlighting its progress since the Online Safety Act became law. 

The update reminded companies of their obligation to comply from December 2024, as well as outlining further dates that form part of the phasic rollout of the Act. 

In addition, Ofcom published its first consultation covering fee setting and penalty regime as part of the enforcement of the Online Safety Act. The Act requires that Ofcom’s operating costs are covered by providers of the regulated services through a fee’s regime. It further stipulates that calculations of fees should be based on providers qualifying worldwide revenue. 

The consultation is open until January 9, 2025. 

Finally, Ofcom announced the appointment of Tamara Ingram OBE to their Board as Deputy Chair, alongside Lord Allan of Hallam who will join as a Non-Executive Director. Both Tamara and Allan have been appointed on four-year terms and will provide strategic direction to Ofcom and its executive. 

Industry News

EE announced in October the 16 new locations who will be receiving a major 5G standalone upgrade. The locations announced will be completed and live by the end of the year and will bring EE’s 5G standalone network to more than 30 major towns and cities across the UK. Areas with 5G Standalone will experience a 95% outdoor coverage rate, improving communications and opportunities across these locations. 

In November, VMO2 announced the launch of a new Small Business Partnerships initiative which brings together Virgin StartUp, GoDaddy, and egg. The Small Business Partnership aims to deliver exclusive offers to small business customers and drive SME growth across the UK by equipping them with the connectivity and technology they need to succeed and scale. 

Finally, BT seems to be moving closer toward selling their Global division, which is responsible for selling internet, phone and other business solutions to multinational corporate clients. Whilst industry analysts have suggested potential buyers include Verizon, Amazon and Microsoft, it could also remain that BT’s global division is apportioned and sold more geographically, with some reports suggesting companies such as Viatel and Telecom Italia have expressed an interest in geographically specific areas across Ireland and Italy. 

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A new Digital Connectivity Forum report has found that almost all the major players within the UK telecoms sector have set net zero targets, with three quarters of firms having validated science-based targets.

The report highlights that the anchor point for acting on sustainability is the setting of credible carbon reduction goals. These should involve clear targets and measurable outcomes, which can be used to report progress.

The Digital Connectivity Forum’s State of the Industry Report was based on survey results from 12 major telecoms companies, including network operators, internet service providers and vendors.

The report highlights a positive and continued commitment to the net zero journey, with 11 out of 12 having set some form of net zero target, and 75% having validated science-based targets. This level of target setting is both a positive signal of the continued commitment to net zero and a sign that the telecoms sector is recognising and responding to climate concerns.

The report highlighted interesting areas such as the potential for certain drivers to decrease overall emissions, including fleet transition, renewable energy switching, fluorinated gas reduction and the use of data analytics to focus sustainability strategy.

Exploring levers to industry wide reductions, policy and regulatory change, grid decarbonisation, industry change, subsidy and incentives, standardisation and green skills adoption were highlighted as key contributors towards overall industry reductions.

As new challenges emerge, such as the increasing need for climate resilience and tackling the remaining barriers for industry wide adoption of decarbonisation levers; cooperation and engagement across industry, government and other stakeholders will be a powerful tool for overall success.

Other key findings included:

• 70% identified renewable energy transition as the largest driver for operational emissions decrease to date.
• 5 out of 11 identified fleet transition as a potential large-scale driver for scope 1 & 2 reductions
• 50% have fleet transition targets
• 90% identified green skills gaps as a barrier

The report’s publication follows the second annual UK Telecoms Sustainability Roundtable, which was held in June this year by the Digital Connectivity Forum, Ofcom and Accenture. The event followed on from last year’s initial kick off session, where the UK’s largest connectivity providers came together to sign a statement of commitment, in which they agreed to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the telecoms supply chain.

At this year’s roundtable, which was attended by twenty-four sustainability leaders representing sixteen companies from across the telecoms industry, eight priority areas were identified:

• Creating a net zero roadmap for the telecoms sector
• Supplier Engagement within competition law parameters to tackle scope 3 emissions
• Engaging senior leaders within telecoms firms on critical climate challenges and action
• Understanding and improving climate resilience in a changing world
• Common Training Standards to increase and align sustainability understanding across roles and departments
• Understanding the barriers to Electric Vehicle adoption and creating a policy environment to encourage fleet switching
• Life Cycle Assessment Data improvement and understanding
• Grid Decarbonisation

These areas have been evaluated by the DCF climate group members and will continue to be taken forward in discussion as to how to drive progress in the most impactful way, and in keeping with competition law rules.

Will Ennett, Chair of the Digital Connectivity Forum Climate & Sustainability Work Group said:

The members of the Digital Connectivity Forum Climate and Sustainability Working Group have recognised the urgency of climate change. As we face a world that is rapidly changing, many companies are already taking impressive action to curb their environmental impact and make a difference. I want to take this opportunity to thank all members for their enthusiastic collaboration, and to the Digital Connectivity Forum team for their tremendous dedication in creating this report.

Ed Leighton, Director of Strategy & Policy at Ofcom said:

It was great to bring together telecoms providers for a second successive year, to reaffirm their shared commitment to reduce carbon emissions. I was impressed by the energy and ideas, with some clear areas of focus coming out of this year’s roundtable – including more engagement at senior leadership level and creating a net zero roadmap for the telecoms sector.

On Tuesday 19^th March, the Digital Connectivity Forum launched its latest report, ‘Advanced Connectivity Take-Up and Use Cases’, produced by leading TMT Management consultancy, Analysys Mason. 

The Report

The report considers drivers, barriers, and potential applications of advanced broadband technologies, as well as potential policy interventions and support for the enablement of advanced connectivity for all. 

A key recommendation was the implementation of an information campaign centred around a new cross-industry independent website. By offering clear, accessible explanations of the various broadband technologies and their capabilities to consumers, the aim is to provide clarity to consumers, allowing them to understand and choose the right service for their needs. 

Alongside take-up and barriers the report considers use cases for 5GSA and FTTP connectivity. Considering critical sectors such as agriculture, transport, healthcare, and manufacturing. These use cases cover a broad range of areas within these topics, highlighting the potential for transformative impact across society. These include: 

• virtual coupling of trains 
• connected ambulances 
• advanced agricultural techniques like crop phenotyping 

To realise these promising use cases, the report advocates for increased trialling of advanced connectivity solutions, alongside proactive government promotion and feasibility assessments aimed at addressing regulatory, operational, and safety challenges. 

You can read the full reports by clicking here for take up and here for use cases. 

The Launch

Our launch commenced with opening comments from Head of the DCF, Alex Mather before handing over to Principal Consultant with Analysys Mason, Andrew Daly.  

Andrew gave two presentations over the course of the afternoon, looking at both the take up and the use case elements. These included results from the 22 surveyed FTTP providers on:  

• Network coverage and take-up 
• drivers and success stories 
• barriers and policy initiatives 

As well as contextual information such as whether they are urban/rural in focus, a wholesale/retail operator, as well as their scale. 

The survey found that the top three drivers listed by operators were: 

• Download speed 
• Price 
• Reliability 

The main barriers identified by respondents included a perception that their current broadband is sufficient, as well as low awareness of the capability of FTTP. Consumers’ existing broadband contracts were also cited by operators as a barrier. However, it should be noted that contracts are a feature of the UK market which help with revenue assurance and investment recovery. 

Andrew highlighted that the survey found that operators had expressed support for information campaigns as the most effective policy option to encourage FTTP take-up. 

He then outlined the report’s key recommendation: an information campaign built around a new cross-industry independent website. He added that this website could incorporate  

• non-jargon explanations covering the full range of broadband technologies (including benefits and capabilities) 
• use of visuals or graphics where possible to encourage better understanding (for example how the availability of networks will change in the future) 
• Information on how to switch providers (for example the OTS regime) 
• Information on digital skills training and digital champions. 

Andrew then moved onto the second part of the report on use cases, that utilise the capabilities of advanced connectivity networks. Highlighting the benefits that these could provide. 

These covered both 5G standalone (5G SA) and Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). The use cases that were identified were noted for their clear benefits, short to medium term time scale and lack of clear alternative approach. An additional focus was that of having a clear commercial and/or policy rationale underpinning them. 

In total six use cases were identified for inclusion within the report: 

• Remote health monitoring 
• Connected ambulances 
• Advanced connectivity in railways 
• Electric vehicle charging 
• Remote monitoring of industrial equipment 
• Crop phenotyping 

Examples of benefits within these included wearables and in-home sensors to provide patient monitoring, automatic uplink of healthcare visitor data, remote video consultation allowing for less mobile, or more remote, patients better access to prompt, quality care. 

The report estimates a potential 5% social care saving (representative of £890 million).  

Other highlighted uses included vibration, electrical and other types of sensor monitoring within machinery to increase efficiency in manufacturing. This sensor data could be utilised to detect patterns which indicate wear, as well as mitigating possible future failure.  

This advance knowledge could support preventative maintenance, minimising downtime. Network reliability was noted as a key element of changing industrial processes, meaning that the reliability presented by FTTP is of critical importance within this transformation. 

Following Andrew’s presentations, the DCF were delighted to welcome two panels of expert voices to the stage to discuss each half of the report’s findings in detail. The panels were chaired by DCF chair, Stephanie Liston and featured: 

• Jesam Eyong, Head of Public Sector Engagement, Barrier Busting Task Force, DSIT 
• Richard Feasey, Inquiry Chair, Competition and Markets Authority 
• James King, Policy Principal, Ofcom 
• Bronagh McCloskey, Head of Public Affairs and Corporate Sustainable Responsibility, TalkTalk 

Discussing Advanced Connectivity Take-Up and covering their thoughts on the identified drivers and barriers towards adoption and how providers and industry can come together to remove or improve these; as well as their thoughts on the overall call for a cross industry website/information campaign.  

Joining the use cases panel we were very happy to welcome: 

• Andrew Daly, Principal Consultant, Analysys Mason 
• Patricia Dooley, Head of UK Strategy and Public Affairs, Ericsson 
• Jonathan Freeman, Strategic Growth and Regulatory Director, Cellnex UK 
• Chris Parkinson, Senior Government Affairs Manager, Vodafone 

The audience heard the panel’s views on how far away they feel we are from seeing these use cases translated into reality, as well as what they see as the key enabler in bringing these use cases to fruition. The panel noted the relevance of the report’s findings as we approach almost one year on from the publication of the Government’s Wireless Infrastructure Strategy. 

The event concluded with closing remarks from DCF chair, Stephanie Liston before networking drinks. 

We hope you enjoyed the launch, if you were not able to join us but have any questions regarding the report, please contact us.

In a new report released today by the Digital Connectivity Forum (DCF), titled ‘Advanced Connectivity Take-Up and Use Cases’, crucial insights into the adoption of advanced connectivity in the UK have been unveiled. As the leading advisory body to the UK Government on connectivity, DCF has partnered with Analysys Mason, a prominent TMT consultancy, to delve into the drivers, barriers, and potential applications of advanced broadband technologies. 

The report underscores the importance of fostering widespread adoption of FTTP broadband and leveraging the potential of 5G Standalone (5GSA) technology across various sectors of the economy. 

Through comprehensive analysis and collaboration with 21 surveyed fibre operators, key motivations and obstacles to adoption of FTTP have been identified. Key findings reveal that consumers prioritise speed, price, and reliability when considering advanced connectivity options, reflecting the increasing indispensability of connectivity in modern society. However, a significant barrier lies in the lack of awareness regarding the benefits of FTTP and a perceived absence of necessity among consumers. 

Addressing these challenges head-on, the report recommends the implementation of an information campaign centred around a new cross-industry independent website. This platform will serve as a point of clarity, offering accessible explanations of various broadband technologies and their capabilities in layman’s terms, thereby empowering end-users to make informed decisions. 

Moreover, the report showcases compelling use cases for 5GSA and FTTP connectivity in critical sectors such as agriculture, transport, healthcare, and manufacturing. From virtual coupling of trains to connected ambulances and advanced agricultural techniques like crop phenotyping, the potential for transformative impact is evident. 

To realise these promising use cases, the report advocates for increased trialling of advanced connectivity solutions, alongside proactive government promotion and feasibility assessments aimed at addressing regulatory, operational, and safety challenges. By implementing these recommendations, the UK can unlock the full potential of advanced connectivity, ushering in a new era of prosperity and innovation for the economy and society alike. 

Alex Mather, Head of the Digital Connectivity Forum said:

“As the rollout of gigabit-capable fixed connectivity accelerates, and 5G standalone rollout gets underway, the importance of ensuring that all parts of the UK society and economy understand and benefit from these transformational forms of connectivity has never been greater. 

”The report shows better understanding and awareness of advanced broadband technologies is essential in enabling the nation to reap the full benefits of these forms of connectivity. 

“We look forward to working with industry as well as government and regulatory stakeholders, to bring these uses into reality.” 

Andrew Daly, Principal Consultant at Analysys Mason, said: 

“Advanced connectivity networks have huge potential to support new use cases, applications and functions that can bring economic social and sustainability benefits to many aspects of everyday lives in the UK. Take-up on these networks is critical to realising these benefits, and greater information for end-users, along with targeted actions for specific industry verticals, are key next steps.” 

The report is available here:

• Advanced Connectivity: FTTP take-up research 
• Advanced Connectivity Use Cases: Why the UK needs to use advanced connectivity 

Connectivity is an integral part of modern daily life. Since the release of the World Wide Web (WWW) in 1991 (the internet’s official birthday is generally considered to be January 1983) digital connectivity has seen a staggering increase in global speed, leaving an almost unrecognisable landscape in its wake.  

Between 1991 and 2022 the world witnessed changes from 14kbit/s (0.0145Mbps) to 100mbit/s (12.5MBps) across worldwide average, and global speed trends are still growing. It is estimated by up to 20% per year. 

In 2024, this has left some consumers asking, ‘why do I need more?’, ‘what is the point of super advanced connectivity?’. This may well be true. It presents valid questions to consider when the recommended speed for streaming TV is 1.5Mbps for regular streaming, or 5-8Mbps for HD video. 

So, with less of us facing the buffering wheel as we watch our favourite programmes, what are the wider implications and uses of high-speed ultra-low latency connectivity, and why should we care? 

The answers are far reaching and surprising. The power of these use cases poses an exciting ability to transform societies; fuelling economies and driving progress. 

The Digital Connectivity Forum had the opportunity to visit BT’s research and development centre at Adastral Park earlier this month as part of the work on an upcoming project focusing on FTTP take up and use cases for 5G standalone and FTTP. As part of this we were guided through their technology showcase rooms. These covered areas such as: 

• Defence 
• Security 
• Health 
• Retail 
• Home 
• Industry  
• and Smart World and Cities

These showed the real-life benefits of high-speed ultra-low latency connectivity. But what are some examples? 

Home 

Aside from the obvious benefits of greater levels of homeworking having wide reaching effects, ranging from increased access to quality talent for companies, greater work/life balance for employees and decreased commuting emissions. Advanced connectivity presents further opportunities for technology in the home.  

These could range from home monitoring for patients using connected medical devices, connected home technology that allows for greater remote control of the home, or helping to safeguard elderly or vulnerable users via integrated AI home systems. Allowing them to retain independence whilst providing peace of mind to their loved ones. 

Health

Advanced Connectivity has already proven itself as a powerful tool for the equitable availability of quality healthcare access. In addition to this, connected devices and sensors make it possible to monitor patients at home in real time. This critical information could be transformative in treating those with chronic illnesses. Improving both quality of treatment and resource efficiency. 

Digitisation and improved effectiveness to the flow of data will also be instrumental in improving resource use and maximising efficiency. 

Smart Cities

Smart cities run on data, and this can be facilitated with high powered, fast connectivity. The benefits of this could result in the improvement of quality of life and delivery of services for its residents.  

When devices connect, they serve as both a user and a provider of critical information. This could be used to monitor elements such as footfall (how busy is somewhere right now, helping people make informed travel choices), parking availability (live updates minimising wasted journeys and providing critical information on whether current infrastructure is suitable to support city needs) and traffic levels and flow (this could build information regarding congestion, emissions, and air quality). 

The DCF’s upcoming report: Advanced Connectivity take-up and use cases

The Digital Connectivity Forum’s report will investigate take up levels of FTTP, as well as 5G standalone and FTTP’s use in a flourishing, future thinking society. The project will feature analysis of FTTP deployment, including key barriers and drivers of adoption, as well as the consideration of potential policy interventions. 

In addition to this it will look at 5G Standalone and FTTP use cases, conducting an overview of a small select number of use cases to demonstrate how 5GSA and FTTP connectivity could be utilised in specific sectors of the economy, including manufacturing and agriculture. 

The report will launch in March this year and form part of the DCF’s exciting plan of 2024 activity.