As the UK Government opens bidding to local authorities and district councils in the third wave of the Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) Challenge Fund, open access Gigabit fibre provider VX Fiber has published a ‘Digital Masterplan’ to assist them in their plans for rolling out new high-speed broadband networks.
The VX Fiber Digital Masterplan consists of nine sequential stages for a local body to consider in its installation and rollout plans for a prospective network.
Commenting on the Masterplan, Richard Watts, VX Fiber’s Head of Business Development, said: “Local authorities are the custodians of the UK’s regional economic and social development. They have responsibility for a broad range of issues: local infrastructure, housing, social inclusion, job creation, attracting investment, education, health and other public services — these all come under the remit of a local authority or district council.”
“Digital is set to play an increasingly significant role in each of these areas. A local authority’s development plans must have a properly thought-out digital strategy to support it,” continued Richard.
Local government bodies are increasingly shaping their own ‘digital destiny’ by investing in and rolling out their own fibre infrastructure. However, superfast and ultrafast broadband are not fit for purpose as long-term solutions.
The demand among private users and business users for high-speed, high capacity broadband is growing exponentially and will very soon make superfast — and even ultrafast — connectivity obsolete.
Therefore, rather than continuing to invest millions in hybrid copper/fibre technologies, which will only be suitable for a few more years, the UK should properly invest in full fibre to the home (FTTH) Gigabit connectivity instead.
To put in place an effective rollout plan, a local authority needs to consider the following nine consecutive stages. It can properly identify the assets it already has in place, pinpoint the locations that the network must connect, and plan accordingly.
