Digital Infrastructure Minister is seeking views on changing
regulations to make infrastructure sharing easier for broadband
companies.
This would open up access for broadband network operators to
house their equipment on ‘passive’ infrastructure owned and used
by other telecoms companies. Passive infrastructure includes
utility ducts, poles, masts, pipes, inspection chambers,
manholes, cabinets, and antenna installations.
The government will also explore making it easier for these firms
to run high-speed broadband cables through the electricity, gas,
water and sewer networks that span the UK.
It could also mean strengthening broadband companies’ access to
run cables along new and existing infrastructure lining the road
and rail networks across the length and breadth of the country.
Currently civil works, in particular installing new ducts and
poles, can make up as much as 80% of the costs to industry of
building new gigabit-capable broadband networks.
These measures could significantly reduce the time and cost it
takes to roll out gigabit-capable broadband to every home and
business in the UK, giving people future-proof internet
connections capable of reaching download speeds of up to 1
gigabit (1000 megabits) per second.
Research from the National Infrastructure Commission suggests
infrastructure re-use could lead to an £8 billion cost saving for
companies deploying gigabit-capable broadband.
Minister for Digital Infrastructure said:
It makes both economic and common sense for firms rolling out
gigabit broadband to make use of the infrastructure that
already exists across the country. This will help them avoid
the high costs and disruption of having to dig or build their
own and ultimately benefit consumers.
We’ve seen progress with improved access to Openreach’s ducts
and poles, but other telecoms companies have large networks
that are not easily accessible. We want them, and utility
companies, to do more to open these up and help speed up
getting next-generation broadband to people across the UK.
As a result the government is today launching a call for evidence
as part of a review of the Access to Infrastructure (ATI)
Regulations 2016, which enables sharing of information about
access to physical infrastructure across the utility, transport
and communications sectors.
They include provisions on the exchange of information about
existing infrastructure, and the right to access that
infrastructure on fair and reasonable commercial terms and
conditions.
While telecoms companies are free to make their own commercial
agreements on infrastructure sharing, the government understands
that the ATI Regulations have not been widely used in the UK to
date despite the rapid increase in the rollout of gigabit
broadband to meet the government’s ambitions for nationwide
coverage.
The review will assess if there are changes that could be made to
the regulations to further boost investment in infrastructure,
and encourage the use of infrastructure sharing to increase the
availability of gigabit-capable broadband.
Clare MacNamara, CEO of the Broadband Stakeholder Group, the UK
Government’s advisory forum for telecoms policy, said:
It is important for the Broadband Stakeholder Group that the
right measures are in place to support UK fibre and gigabit
rollout in order for industry to meet the target of nationwide
availability by 2025. We therefore welcome Government’s review
of the regulations”.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
