Mayor announces plans to boost digital connectivity across London
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Troubleshooting ‘Not-Spot Team’ to tackle problem areas City Hall
to host connectivity summit Transport for London working to bring
mobile connectivity to London Underground The Mayor of
London, Sadiq Khan, today announced a package of measures to boost
digital connectivity across the capital and tackle
London’s areas of poor connectivity – known as
‘not-spots’ – including the appointment of a...Request free trial
Sadiq also announced a City Hall summit to bring together local authorities and help them apply for government funding.
Meanwhile, Transport for London is working to bring mobile connectivity to London Underground tunnels – one of the most high-profile not spots in the country.
London is widely regarded as Europe’s leading technology hub, with a growing sector of over 40,000 digital technology businesses employing almost 200,000 people, as well as major bases of many leading global tech companies.
But while the capital leads the way in tech growth, there are parts of the city where slow and unreliable broadband is a source of concern and frustration for businesses and residents alike, such as in Rotherhithe and parts of Westminster and the City of London.
The Mayor made a manifesto commitment to help improve connectivity in London by tackling areas of poor internet provision and ensuring better access to public sector property for digital infrastructure.
His new Not-Spot Team will be going out to London’s most problematic connectivity spots, to work with local authorities and providers to identify and deliver solutions to improve connectivity.
The City Hall summit – the Digital Connectivity Funding Forum – will bring together London’s local authorities to support them in applying for the Government’s Digital Infrastructure Funding, discussing the work of the Not-Spot Team and sharing ideas and best practice on connectivity.
Meanwhile, the Elizabeth Line will have mobile coverage when it launches through central London in December 2018, giving continuous phone coverage and access to the Internet, apps and email as trains move through tunnels across the network.
TfL will shortly be issuing a formal notice seeking feedback from the industry on how it can best take advantage of its underground and street-level assets to improve connectivity across the capital, while also generating a commercial return.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London is now a leading global tech hub, with thriving start-ups alongside major companies like Facebook, Amazon and Google.
“But our digital connectivity needs to be improved – internet connectivity is now a key public utility, and it is no surprise that some businesses see poor connectivity as a barrier to growth.
“If we are to remain competitive in the global economy, we need to ensure every Londoner is able to access a fast and reliable digital connection.
“That means working to boost connectivity across London – tackling not-spots, delivering connectivity in the London Underground and working with local authorities to provide digital infrastructure fitting of a global tech hub.”
David Leam, infrastructure director at London First, said: “Business needs fast and reliable connections across our capital – in the office, for people working from home and when they’re on the move.
“We should be making the most of existing infrastructure, including the London Underground network, to boost speeds and deliver coverage to areas that have been left behind. But we also need London’s planners to get behind this work, otherwise our digital ambitions risk being strangled by red tape.”
The Mayor is writing to all local authorities in the capital to encourage all boroughs to bid for the Government’s Digital Infrastructure Funding and giving guidance on how best to use access arrangements, known as 'wayleaves', to get more fibre in the ground and into buildings. These legal agreements are used to grant access to land or buildings for providers to deploy and manage digital infrastructure.
This can often be problematic and time-consuming in agreeing terms. The GLA has already supported work of the City of London Corporation to develop a standardised wayleave agreement, and now intends to work across London to develop standard mobile wayleave.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Letter from the Mayor of London to local authorities
Tackling London’s Digital Connectivity Not Spots
World-class digital connectivity will increasingly become a vital part of achieving higher productivity for London’s business and better social and economic outcomes for Londoners. I recently set out my ambition for London to become the world’s leading ‘smart’ city, and above all else, that means being a connected city. In that context it is reasonable to say that before too long, every household and every business in London should have access to a superfast internet connection, and that free public connectivity should be a feature of our high streets and public spaces.
However, I know that you will be as aware as I am of the gaps in high speed digital connectivity across London that currently exist, and the frustration this creates for Londoners and business. I am writing to you to ask that we work together to find and expedite solutions.
Insufficient connectivity is a particular barrier for expanding London’s technology sector, but is also increasingly important to every industry. If we are to remain competitive in the global economy, we need to ensure every Londoner can access the fastest and most reliable digital connections.
I made clear in my manifesto my commitment to tackling London’s digital connectivity not spots. I have developed a package of measures that seek to deliver results in the short and long term:
(matthew.clifton@london.gov.uk, 0207 983 5793)
(Kabir.zahman@london.gov.uk, 0207 983 5654)
Please consider them your resource to contact with any digital connectivity questions or issues. They have significant experience in this area, already working with several boroughs, and I know they are looking forward to working with you all closely.
Later this year the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) will invite bids into a Challenge Fund. This Challenge Fund will seek local bodies who can leverage local investment and activity, to stimulate more fibre connections in their local areas. I hope by now that you have received an Expression of Interest invitation from the Minister of State for Digital, Rt Hon. Matt Hancock MP. If you have not please contact DCMS viaLFFN@culture.gov.uk. I encourage all boroughs to submit Expressions of Interest, which my team will be pleased to assist you with.
To support you in preparing bids for the Challenge Fund, and to provide an opportunity to share best practice, I will be hosting a Full Fibre Funding Forum for borough officers at City Hall on 8th September 2017. We will have presentations from DCMS on how to apply for the Challenge Fund, information on the forthcoming Electronic Communications Code, and guidance on what you can do in the short term to improve fibre availability in your area.
I will shortly announce the appointment of London’s first Chief Digital Officer. My CDO will work with you and all boroughs across London to support your own digital ambitions and enable greater cross-London collaboration around data, the adoption of new common standards and the sharing of best practice.
We now have an opportunity to bring together all our efforts and create a step change in London’s digital connectivity. I very much look forward to working with you to achieve our ambitions to give every Londoner access to the high speed, reliable, and affordable connectivity they need.
Yours sincerely,
Mayor of London
#LondonIsOpen
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