David Hennell from National Broadband explores alternative broadband delivery solutions that local, regional and central government authorities need to be aware of
In today’s digital age, access to fast and reliable internet connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Digital connectivity has become ingrained in our daily lives, and its importance to businesses and communities is on par with other essential utilities. However, digital discrepancy persists, leaving many rural areas significantly disadvantaged and stuck in the broadband slow lane.
Despite the Government setting itself the goal of building a world-class digital infrastructure for the UK, there remains a substantial gap between those who have access to high-speed broadband and those who do not. Ofcom’s latest report reveals that well over 430,000 properties in the UK still lack access to what it calls a “decent” fixed-line broadband service of 10Mbps or more, with rural areas being disproportionately affected.
However, cost-effective and immediately deployable connectivity solutions exist today to bring much-improved broadband on a per property basis to those most in need.
Broadband delivery: current challenges and central government initiatives
While the UK government has recognised the need to improve rural broadband connectivity with some efforts being made to address the so-called Digital Divide, there are still significant challenges to ”Levelling Up” and achieving fit-for-purpose universal access.
Central government’s initial target was to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to all UK properties by 2025. However, this has been revised downwards with the latest objectives now aiming for 85% of properties to have gigabit- capable connections by the end of 2025, with a further goal of reaching “as close to as possible” to 100% by 2030.
To achieve these more modest goals, the government is investing up to £5 billion into its Project Gigabit scheme, but it is evident that at least 15% of UK properties will not benefit from such initiatives over the next three years.
Furthermore, the properties set to receive no assistance very much tend to have the poorest current broadband speeds, meaning that they are in fact the ones most in need of help.
The problem at the heart of current government strategy to improve connectivity
The government’s current approach to improving connectivity across the nation is exclusively focused on the roll-out of full-fibre broadband. Unfortunately, this is set to do little to help the UK’s most digitally deprived premises.
Provisioning the infrastructure required to connect more remote and rural properties with fibre broadband is both cost-prohibitive and time-inefficient. As a result, the majority of deployments commissioned under Project Gigabit target premises in more densely populated and easily accessible locations while neglecting harder-to-reach areas where improved connectivity is most needed.
Consequently, by primarily addressing areas where broadband connectivity is already more than adequate, current policy not only fails to bridge the Digital Divide, but actually risks exacerbating digital inequality.
The crucial role of alternative broadband solutions
Every county council and regional authority will be well aware of pockets of homes and businesses falling under their remit which are simply not covered by any current broadband procurement projects or plans. This is despite these properties most likely being those with the poorest landline broadband speeds.
Fortunately, alternative broadband delivery solutions to provide the most digitally disadvantaged homes and businesses with significantly improved connectivity already exist today, with one prime example being 4G-delivered broadband.
4G broadband is nigh on immediately deployable on an individual property basis and at a very low capital outlay per premises. Moreover, it’s available almost anywhere, with Ofcom itself reporting that over 85% of the 430,000+ broadband-starved properties in the UK could in fact be supplied with significantly improved connectivity over 4G.
This is because coverage by 4G networks is extensive, with 99% of the UK now being covered. Crucially, even areas with weaker signal strength can still benefit from 4G connectivity by having an outdoor 4G antenna installed on any given property, enabling the provision of high-performance and reliable broadband to the most problematic of so-called broadband white areas.
The benefits to regional authorities of utilising alternative broadband solutions
Simply put, leveraging alternative broadband delivery solutions gives local and regional government bodies an immediate way of radically improving the connectivity of the most digitally excluded (and, as such, the most vocal) communities within their areas of responsibility.
The immediate deployability of alternative broadband delivery technologies such as 4G – and its ability to be provisioned on a “one property at a time” basis – could not be more different from the lengthy and resource-intensive timescales required by any fibre roll-out.
Connecting any property to a 4G broadband service typically takes no more than a week or so, as opposed to the months or years required for fibre provisioning. This accelerated deployment time obviously allows rural premises access to high-speed internet far sooner.
Similarly, the costs involved in the deployment of 4G broadband are far lower. Fibre infrastructure requires substantial investment, making it far less viable for connecting properties in more rural and sparsely populated areas. In contrast, because 4G broadband leverages existing mobile network infrastructure, any need for capital expenditure is vastly reduced, with full “per premises” connection costs amounting to no more than £300.
These two inherent advantages give regional authorities the means to address and solve their thorniest connectivity challenges directly, immediately and cost-effectively.
Solutions are already being put to use
Some more forward-thinking regional authorities across the UK have recognised the value of alternative broadband solutions and have implemented initiatives to further address the Digital Divide within their areas of control.
The Welsh Assembly continues with its Access Broadband Cymru scheme, subsidising the set-up cost of alternate technology broadband connections for the principality’s most digitally deprived properties. The Scottish Parliament has a similar action in place with its SBVS program and county councils such as Herefordshire have also put in place smaller alternative technology local procurement schemes to bring much-improved broadband to some of their hardest-to-reach properties.
Bridging the Digital Divide by using alternative broadband delivery solutions
If the Digital Divide is to be bridged effectively, the role that alternative broadband delivery solutions can play is key. Technologies such as 4G broadband offer a tried, tested and immediately available way of significantly improving connectivity for the nation’s most digitally disadvantaged communities.
This is without doubt something that government at all levels needs to be aware of and leverage in order to achieve digital inclusivity for all.
For more information, visit National Broadband.
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International.
