Westminster eForum

This timely seminar will discuss the next steps for telecoms infrastructure in the UK - looking at key issues around competition, network investment and achieving full fibre coverage.

The conference will examine priorities for future investment in telecoms infrastructure and follows the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review and interim government response to the NIC’s National Infrastructure Assessment which set out priorities for the development of the UK’s digital infrastructure including full fibre and 5G rollout.

Policymakers and industry stakeholders will assess the progress towards fulfilling the Universal Service Obligation - including the impact of programmes such as the Rural Gigabit Connectivity Programme and Local Full Fibre Networks Challenge Fund - and key issues for competition policy, the structure of the telecommunications market and enhancing consumer experience.

Sessions will also examine the future for the regulatory framework, following the public consultation on the Statement of Strategic Priorities for Ofcom and as it outlines its Annual Plan for 2019/20, as well as considering what more is needed to encourage long-term investment, reduce deployment costs and increasing the extent of infrastructure sharing across the sector.

This timely conference will discuss a range of new government policy initiatives aimed at harnessing technological innovation to drive social change for good - and the implications for charities, social enterprises and the private sector.

In the context of aspirations set out in the Civil Society Strategy, we expect discussion on ways in which charities and social enterprises can better engage with, and make use of, digital technology, as well as priorities for supporting social tech start-ups and scale-ups.

The agenda will bring out latest thinking on the potential impact that new technologies can have on tackling complex social issues - looking at case studies from the UK and abroad of the deployment of advanced tech for good causes, examining outcomes and assessing the way forward.

There will also be discussion on the scope for the involvement of private business - as well as ways in which it can be made easier for ventures in the social tech sector to bid for and win contracts in the public sector.

Delegates will also consider how best to promote continued innovation in social tech organisations, and what more needs to be done to ensure they have sufficient access to finance, investment and business development resources, following the recent announcement of a new fund for social tech ventures supported by the Government and the Social Tech Trust.

There will be further discussion on key priorities for driving and enabling the uptake of technologies such as AI and digital fundraising tools by charities at varying scales - including developing digital skills within third sector organisations, promoting good governance and best practice in data handling, and examining ways in which tech solutions can be matched to charities’ scale and requirements.

This timely conference will consider next steps for the UK drones sector, looking at what is needed from policy and regulation to promote public trust in the use of drones, as well as supporting innovation and growth.

Following the recent high-profile disruption at a number of airports resulting from drone misuse, and in the context of the Government’s recent announcement of an expansion of drone ‘no-fly-zones’ around airports, coming into force in March, the seminar will be an opportunity to discuss key priorities for enhancing standards of safety and public trust, whilst also driving continued development in the UK’s drones sector.

It takes place following the recent publication of the Government’s response to its consultation on drone safety and enforcement policy, as well as in the context of the upcoming publication of the draft Drones Bill.

Further discussion will focus on key priorities for developing and streamlining regulatory processes to enable the routine conduct of fully-autonomous drone operations.

It comes as the CAA prepares to introduce a new registration system for drone operators, and following the award of up to £1m from the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund to the CAA.

Delegates will also consider the future international regulatory environment and the implications for the UK - in the context of development of regulation by EASA with an emphasis of safety, innovation and support for growth, and the recent publication of a draft set of international drone standards by the ISO.

We also expect discussion on potential future developments in capability, new use cases, and the resulting regulatory and technical challenges - including facilitating Beyond-Visual-Line-Of-Sight (BVLOS) operations on a routine basis, as well as enabling fully autonomous flight in densely populated airspaces such as major cities.

This timely conference will consider priorities for the Government’s upcoming National Data Strategy, looking at recent policy developments in this area in the UK and more widely.

Delegates will consider key emerging areas of focus for the Strategy, as well as wider issues around the use of consumer and personal data in the digital economy.

This seminar takes place in the context of Government’s overarching policy aim of achieving a balance between support for innovation in data usage and addressing concerns around security, privacy, consent and liability, with further relevant policy developments including the Smart Data Review and the new Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation.

Discussion will examine next steps for developing and putting into place sustainable best practice for businesses, charities and the public sector in the handling and protection of data.

We also expect discussion on next steps for driving investment and innovation in data-driven technologies such as AI, as well as the way forward for building public trust and confidence as they are rolled out across a range of sectors and use cases.

This timely conference will examine next steps for developing ‘smart city’ solutions that address local needs - taking account of local strategic and user priorities, relationships between local government commissioning and the supply chain, and developing standards and learning from best practice.

It takes place in the context of an investment and policy focus on digital infrastructure and its role in economic growth - including support for future investment in 5G technology following the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, the development of a National Geospatial Strategy with a focus on how geospatial data can be used to transform public services and support the UK’s productivity, and the Mayor of London’s Smarter London Together plan to position London at forefront of intelligent innovation.

It also take place in light of the Government’s drive to coordinate initiatives for improving wellbeing and tackling social issues such as loneliness, supporting mental and physical health, and incentivising environmental stewardship.

Delegates will discuss latest thinking on smart cities design and delivery - including how cities might more effectively articulate their needs to the supply chain, addressing sustainability issues, understanding and incorporating innovation in applications and issues around open data, data management and analysis.

They will also consider what lessons can be learnt from existing smart cities around collaboration, funding, and citizen and stakeholder engagement, as well as examine priorities for the creation and adoption of standards to enable the roll-out of smart cities across the UK, focusing on interoperability and system integration, sustainability and best practice.

The agenda also looks at what is needed in policy development, regulation and leadership, including around investment, addressing procurement issues, improving access to data and supporting collaboration.

This timely seminar will examine priorities and options for the regulation of the internet - focusing on UK policy and industry practice, and the international dimension.

It takes place in the context of the upcoming joint DCMS-Home Office Internet Safety Strategy White Paper, and with wider work taking place under the broader Digital Charter - as well as the publication of the Cairncross Review, which includes recommendations for new obligations on large online platforms with respect to news content.

We expect discussion on what any future regulation might look like, and what more can be done to regulate harmful online content whilst protecting freedom of expression.

Delegates will also consider key practical questions around the identification and tracking of harmful content, and the removal and takedown processes - as well as the roles and responsibilities of governments, regulators and enforcement agencies, technology and infrastructure providers, and internet businesses and services along with their customers and audiences.

Following the Government’s announcement that it will extend online age-verification to social media sites, sessions will also consider the key challenges that will come with its implementation, and the range of impacts for businesses and service users. They will also examine more broadly the range of proposed measures on social media, including new codes of practice and more stringent transparency standards.

Discussion will also consider progress so far in existing industry-led solutions and initiatives, and what difficulties have been encountered - including issues around measurement and identification, developing a standardised approach across the industry - and potential next steps for further intervention.

Informed by the recent Lords Communications Committee The Internet: to regulate or not to regulate? Inquiry, and developments in Europe including the Commission’s proposed legislation around extremist content - as well as reflecting developments in the United States and more widely - delegates will also assess options for international collaboration, oversight and enforcement - as well as challenges around education and digital skills.

This conference will bring together policymakers, regulators and stakeholders to consider the next steps for the development of the UK mobile market.

The seminar takes place as the Government consults on its Statement of Strategic Priorities - following the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review last year - which would require Ofcom to take account of priorities such as improving mobile coverage in rural areas and major roads, tackling the ‘loyalty penalty’, considering options to introduce mobile roaming in rural areas, and supporting investment in reliable, fast broadband.

In the context of the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, delegates will discuss the optimal shape of the policy and regulatory framework to support competition, the achievement of coverage targets, sector confidence and investment, and the development of 5G technologies and networks.

They will assess developing market dynamics and what they mean for individual players in the industry, their customers and overall sector growth - looking at M&A and consolidation, developments in services and devices, convergence and access to infrastructure, priorities for attracting and directing investment, opportunities for collaboration, and the scope for trans-border networks.

Attendees will also discuss the practicalities of putting 5G into practice - examining what has been learnt from the testbeds and trials programme and looking at issues for wider rollout - including planning, licensing and engineering challenges, funding, and building public and private partnerships.

Further sessions will bring out latest thinking on demand for 5G - including services needed by consumers and businesses, how best to meet increasing demands on data networks and for online services, and analysing the potential of applications across public and private services for providing cost-effective services, to drive productivity and efficiency.