MATTHEW PEACH HIGH FIBRE
EUROPE’S DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET Europe’s Digital Single Market strategy, devised and implemented by the European Commission over the past two years, is intended to open up digital opportunities for individuals and businesses across the EU and enhance Europe’s position as a world leader in the digital economy. A Digital Single Market (DSM) is one in which the free movement of persons, services and capital is ensured and where the individuals and businesses can seamlessly access and exercise online activities under conditions of fair competition, and a high level of consumer and personal data protection, irrespective of their nationality or place of residence. Legislative proposals are now under discussion by the co-legislator, the European Parliament and the Council. The DSM can create opportunities for new startups and allow existing companies in a market of over 500 million people. It is estimated by the EC that achieving a Digital Single Market could contribute at least €415 billion per year to Europe’s economy, creating jobs and transforming public services. An inclusive DSM offers opportunities for citizens also, provided they are equipped with the right digital skills. Enhanced use of digital technologies can improve citizens’ access to information and culture, improve their job opportunities. It can also promote and support modern open government.
rapidly from managed services to fibre – bandwidth needs are soaring and 5G means you cannot build a mobile network with legacy Ethernet networks – only fibre will do What is the importance of Europe- wide / UK national policies to encourage deployment? The most important driver is the ever- increasing demand for bandwidth and the need for reliability from customers. Hand in hand with this is the need for full fibre to underpin developments like 5G and smart cities. The UK Government can help to accelerate the response to demand with clear goals and targets, by making it easier to procure full fibre at both national and local level and with measures such as the recent 100% relief on business rates for fibre over the next five years. Regulation definitely needs to pull in the same direction as Government policy, something that is not always apparent – our regulator remains heavily focused on dictating the terms of access to Openreach’s out-dated network in ways that are at best a distraction and at worst actively impair the incentives for alternative fibre network deployment. We also need firm action to prevent hybrid copper/fibre broadband services being marketed as fibre broadband. Digital connectivity also needs to be considered for underpinning every area of the Industrial Strategy currently under review.
What about availability of suitable infrastructural technology?
on day one to serve future demand and avoid the need for further civils.
What is the competitive landscape?
Fibre is now a standard product and at the transceiver level the market is rapidly commoditising allowing virtually anyone to consume dark fibre easily. Amplifiers and repeaters remain complex and somewhat bespoke solutions – along with ROADMs they’re much easier to buy than they used to be but are still only useful to large networks. Software is where the real innovation is happening. SDN and NFV along with standardised ways to manage multi- vendor environments mean a new network like ours is highly flexible in terms of which services are available and how they evolve. Mobile backhaul is moving
For decades, service providers have had no choice but to use out-of-date BT / Openreach copper networks to serve customers. The historic absence of at- scale digital infrastructure competition has resulted in reputational damage and lost business for service providers as well as delays and unreliable services for the UK’s businesses and consumers. Thankfully the tide has changed and the rise of the alternative, agile, full-fibre infrastructure builders is providing the industry, government and regulator with a choice for the first time.
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ISSUE 9 | Q2 2017
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