August 2020
Starting from:
£99 + VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference will discuss the way forward for implementing and rolling out the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme - aiming to achieve 95% 4G coverage by land area in the UK by 2025.
The discussion at a glance:
- progress so far
- remaining challenges
- potential impact on rural businesses, services and communities
The discussion in detail:
- collaboration - progress, remaining issues and next steps in developing commercial partnerships between the MNOs, including terms for access to existing infrastructure
- funding - how it should be prioritised and geographically directed, and the relationship between commercial and public-sector funding for the SRN
- barriers - addressing practical issues facing rollout of infrastructure for the SRN on the timescales set out by the Government, including:
- procurement - how contracts for infrastructure construction and placement will be tendered for and awarded, and the breadth and openness of competition in delivering the network
- coverage obligations - including rollout commitments, and any further regulatory interventions that might be needed to drive the rollout of mobile coverage in rural areas across the UK
- joined-up development - complementarity between the SRN and other programmes to increase the quality and breadth of mobile coverage in rural areas - such as the Scottish 4G Infill Programme
- impact - maximising the potential of the SRN for the UK’s rural economies including wider improvements to rural public services
- local engagement - the future role for local authorities, local enterprise partnerships and other local stakeholder groups in delivering the SRN and its benefits
- COVID-19:
- what has been learned - from the use of mobile technology during the pandemic
- the new normal - what changes in demand and usage patterns are likely to remain embedded going forward
- economic recovery - the impact of good quality mobile coverage in helping organisations to restart and maintain operations as restrictions are lifted
The background to the discussion:
- COVID-19 - the use of mobile networks during the pandemic highlighting the importance of connectivity for health and social care, social contact, learning and work
- Government response to the consultation on proposed reforms to permitted development rights to support the deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage - measures to enable taller and wider masts, location nearer highways, and faster rollout of other infrastructure
- New law changes to bring better connectivity to the UK:
- the European Electronic Communications Code coming into UK law to encourage gigabit broadband rollout in new, hard-to-reach areas
- extending Ofcom powers to gather information and report back on progress in this area
- £1bn deal to end poor rural mobile coverage agreed, involving:
- the four UK MNOs - committing £532m towards developing the SRN with measures including upgrading existing infrastructure and construction of new phone masts
- the Government - procviding a further £500m to tackle total not-spots
- Mobile coverage obligations - legally-binding coverage commitments agreed by the four MNOs for each UK nation after four and six years from the start of the SRN programme
- The National Infrastructure Strategy - expected later this year, which will outline government plans on core economic infrastructure, including how to deliver digital networks
The agenda:
- Getting SRN over the line - the End of the Beginning
- Rural coverage in Scotland - progress made so far on the Scottish 4G Infill Programme and the deployment lessons learnt to date
- Improving telecoms infrastructure throughout the UK - what lessons can be learned from continental Europe? - with Alfonso Alvarez, Managing Director, Cellnex UK
- Assessing the wider impact of increased connectivity in rural areas - developing the rural economy and supporting communities and services
- Next steps for partnerships and collaboration within the industry and more widely
- Key priorities for the Shared Rural Network
- Implementing the SRN programme - infrastructure rollout, tackling partial and total ‘not-spots’, and the role for the UK’s wider telecoms industry in building the network
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.
It is certainly the case with this conference. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons, and by officials from the DCMS; BEIS; the Home Office; the Department for International Trade; Defra; the Department for the Economy, NI; the Government Legal Department; the Infrastructure and Projects Authority; the Ministry of Defence; the National Audit Office; The Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
