Full-fibre broadband – call to action

There is a recognition that to deliver the modern economy and compete in the global market place pre- and post-Brexit UK must have the appropriate ‘tools’ and infrastructure.

The UK Government has established several publicly funded initiatives, namely:

• Digital Infrastructure Investment fund (DIIF): on 3 July 2017 the £400 million Digital Infrastructure Investment fund announced in the 2016 Autumn Statement went live, with the aim of supporting alternative network providers in deploying ultrafast broadband;
• Additionally, within the Budget 2017 it announced the set-up of a separate £200 million local full-fibre network programme (LFFN) that aims to ‘fund a programme of local projects to test ways to accelerate market delivery of new full-fibre broadband networks’ (e.g. full-fibre connection vouchers for businesses, connecting public sector sites and making public sector assets [e.g. cable ducts and street furniture] more accessible.

In respect of the latter, on 26 July the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) sent a communication to all public sector chief executives stating that it was inviting expressions of interest from bodies interested the LFFN challenge fund.

Letters of expression of interest by cities/regions are to be lodged with DCMS by 23 August 2017 and this will be followed by a detailed application process in autumn/winter 2017. DCMS funding should be spent in the financial year 2018/19.

How can we assist?

The timescale to provide a compelling expression of interest is challenging. However we have access to an unrivalled team that has supported cities who are working closely with DCMS in this area.

The team has a working relationship with DCMS and an unparalleled understanding of the requirements to be successful in obtaining funding.

Accessing this funding stream is critical if your region is to be the focus of investment in world-class digital fibre infrastructure in the coming years. This will be key to delivering public services and driving economic growth and social cohesion.

The team have previously been successful in respect of obtaining state aid clearance for an urban public sector network, supported numerous successful cities in the super-connected Cities programme and successfully negotiated reductions in clawback.