Edinburgh-based UK business ISP Commsworld has this morning announced that they’ve secured a new contract worth £35m+ over 5-years to provide network services to Glasgow City Council (GCC) in Scotland, which forms part of an effort to upgrade from the council’s “ageing legacy networks” to fibre optic and 5G services.

The internet provider has already delivered a strong range of services, such as a new Wide Area Network (WAN) of “ultra-fast, pure-fibre connectivity that transformed the city’s schools, libraries and other council buildings“. But under the new deal they now have responsibility for the City’s Local Area Networks, Wi-Fi, firewall and security and remote access, to add to its delivery of a robust WAN solution and IP telephony.

In total, it previously provided 525 WAN connections, connectivity to a 500-seat contact centre, and linked up all the council’s 18,000 phones on one unified network, delivering resilient, high-speed internet connections of up to 10Gbps to all sites, while completing the project four months ahead of schedule.

Commsworld also secured a £5.8m digital single supplier contract until 2030 to install, manage and support a scalable and flexible full fibre network to support the delivery of CCTV and traffic control services across Glasgow. This network is said to be “on track to be delivered this year.”

The company has also provided connectivity for a number of high-profile Glasgow events. These include fan zones for Euro 2020, TRNSMT and the World Pipe Band Championships, as well as seamless WAN, LAN and Wi-Fi connectivity for the UCI Cycling World Championships, an 11-day super-event held for the very first time in the city as well as throughout Scotland.

Cllr Paul Leinster, Chair of the Digital Glasgow Board, said:

“Digital technology underpins every part of the city’s Strategic Plan – and our new Digital Glasgow Strategy will be hugely important in supporting us to reduce poverty and inequality in our communities, increase opportunity and prosperity for citizens, secure a just transition to net zero and deliver innovative and sustainable public services.

The next few years will also see major changes in how the council’s own ICT needs are met. The signing of this contract is a really significant step on that journey – and I’m pleased Glasgow is partnering with a leading Scottish company like Commsworld.”

Steve Langmead, CEO of Commsworld, said:

“We are delighted that Glasgow City Council has awarded Commsworld this contract, one of the largest in our history. It comes at a significant moment for Commsworld, as it is the 30th anniversary since the company was founded.

By awarding us this new contract, Glasgow City Council has voiced a real vote of confidence not only in the work we have delivered for many years, but in the high-quality service which we provide with our key partners.

We look forward to continuing this relationship so that more than ever before, the citizens who live and work in this great city can benefit from the best cutting-edge technology available today, technology that leads to better data-driven decision making and more targeted, quality services.”

The new contract adds to Commsworld’s existing reputation for supplying network services and school connectivity to local authorities throughout both Scotland and England, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, the Scottish Borders, Dundee and Northumberland.

Customers of SpaceX’s ultrafast and low-latency Starlink broadband service may like to know that the ISP has finally launched their new WiFi (only 802.11ac / Wi-Fi 5) integrated Mini Dish (terminal) hardware and Mini Roaming service add-on in the United Kingdom, which ends up being a little more expensive than its counterpart in the USA.

The operator currently has 6,281 LEO satellites (c.2,000 are GEN 2A) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO altitudes of c.500-600km) and they’re in the process of adding thousands more by the end of 2027. Customers in the UK typically pay from £75 a month for a 30-day term, plus £299 for hardware on the ‘Standard’ plan, which promises internet latency times of 25-60ms, downloads of c. 25-100Mbps and uploads of c. 5-10Mbps.

However, last month saw Starlink invite some of their early adopters in the USA to purchase their new Mini Kit (Dish) for $599 (here), which came bundled alongside a new Mini Roam service for an additional $30 per month. Just to be clear, this is on top of an existing residential subscription and the Mini Roam service gave customers 50GB (GigaBytes) of “mobile data” that can be used anywhere in the country – rising to $1 (£0.80p) per GigaByte thereafter.

The good news today is that Starlink last night began sending out emails to confirm that this same service has now been made available in the UK, which confirms that the kit will cost £399 and the roaming service is much more expensive than in the USA at £50 per month.

Copy of Starlink’s Email

Starlink Mini Now Available

Starlink Mini is a compact, portable kit that can easily fit in a backpack, designed to provide high-speed, low-latency internet on the go.

Starlink Mini includes a built-in WiFi router, lower power consumption, DC power input, and max download speeds over 100 Mbps*. See Starlink Mini specifications here.

The Starlink Mini Kit can be purchased for £399 with either the Mini Roam 50GB service plan for £50/mo or the unlimited Mobile Regional plan for £85/mo. Learn more on starlink.com/roam.

Available Service Plans

Mini Roam 50GB | £50/mo
Best for weekend travelers, backup internet, and in-motion use

Includes 50GB of Mobile data (£1/GB for additional data), coverage throughout Europe, and in-motion use on land. See our Terms of Service regarding in-motion use.

Mobile Regional | £85/mo
Best for caravans, motorhomes, campers, and travelers throughout a continent

Includes unlimited Mobile data on land and coverage throughout Europe. Ocean and global travel available for an additional £1.98/GB.

Just to recap. The new dish – sized 298.5mm x 259mm x 38.5mm – is 63% lighter than the standard Starlink dish, has an operating temperature range of -30°C to 50°C (-22°F to 122°F), draws around 25-40 Watts on average and can run directly off 12-48V DC (it comes with a small 110V power supply with 15 metres of cable).

The kit is also IP67 Type 4 rated with their DC Power Cable and Starlink Plug/Cable installed (using the Ethernet port drops this rating). The dish has a Field of View (FoV) of 110 degrees (slightly better than ‘Standard’) and a single Ethernet (LAN) port.

The Sky-owned broadband ISP and UK video streaming provider, NOW TV, has finally put right one of its biggest weaknesses by introducing support for 4K (UltraHD – 3840 x 2160 pixels) and HDR (High Dynamic Range) video quality via the launch of their new Ultra Boost. But this is a Sky company, so it’s not cheap, and device support may be an issue for some.

Gripes about the video quality of NOW TV’s streaming service are nothing new, particularly since their standard Entertainment Plan only comes with a piddling resolution of 720p to view a single stream, and that’s after already stumping up £9.99 per month. But they then require you to pay an extra £6 per month for the regular ‘Boost’ add-on just to get the now common 1080p HD (High Definition) standard.

By comparison, the new ‘Ultra Boost‘ will set you back an extra £9 per month and, when compared with the regular ‘Boost’, it adds support for Up to 4K Ultra HD HDR, Dolby Atmos sound, and you can also watch three streams at the same time. Both Boost and Ultra Boost will also allow all the Sky Sports channels to stream at 50fps (frames per second). But take note that not all of NOW TV’s channels are available in 4K.

Core NOW TV Plans Compared

 
Standard
Boost
Ultra Boost

Streaming quality
720p
Full HD 1080p
Up to 4K Ultra HD HDR

Sound quality
Stereo
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Atmos

Ad-free streaming
No
Yes*
Yes*

Number of streams
1 person can stream at a time
2 people can stream at a time
3 people can stream at a time

* Cinema, Entertainment and Sports Members can watch on-demand shows, movies and sport without ads. (You’ll still get ads on live channels, and see promotional trailers for shows, movies and events you can access.)

However, customers that opt to pay for the 4K boost instead of the regular boost will need an HD or 4K UHD TV that supports HLG, HDR10 or HDR10+, with an HDMI port that supports HDCP 2.2 (not all HDMI 2.0 ports support this).

Some devices will support this, but a lot of others won’t (more details), including some relatively modern devices and TVs. For example, most games consoles aren’t compatible, except Sony’s PS5. Similarly, PCs, MACs and mobile devices aren’t supported either. Credits to two of our readers (Reece and Mike) for the news tip.

Startup Stories

Showcasing the most exciting startups exhibiting at this year’s Connected Britain conference

4Fibre is a startup focused on providing innovative fibre installation solutions catering to the needs of freeholders, residents, and Communication Service Providers (CSPs). Our company is dedicated to delivering high-quality installations and building a strong reputation within the industry. 

Our primary goal is to offer a seamless fibre infrastructure that protects the properties of freeholders while ensuring residents have access to a choice of multiple CSPs through a single, neutral-hosted installation. This setup not only simplifies the process for freeholders by requiring only one wayleave agreement but also alleviates the burden of wayleave acquisition for CSPs. This approach is particularly beneficial for high risk and difficult-to-wire buildings, such as listed buildings and tower blocks, where traditional installation methods might face resistance from freeholders. 

4Fibre’s solution significantly reduces installation disruptions, presents a cleaner and tidier aesthetic, and minimises management time for property owners. Additionally, our services are designed to be environmentally sustainable, reducing the overall carbon footprint associated with multiple installations. 

By streamlining the wayleave process and offering a platform-neutral infrastructure, 4Fibre supports CSPs in delivering high-speed internet services efficiently and effectively, even in challenging installation scenarios. 

What inspired you to start this company? 

Our parent company, SCCI, has been a cornerstone in the industry for many years, specialising in the installation of security, media, and fibre infrastructure in to Multi Dwelling Units. This extensive experience revealed a growing problem as the industry began receiving significant investments: properties were becoming over-wired, with multiple service providers leaving behind unsightly and redundant cables. This issue was particularly noticeable in urban areas like London, where it was not uncommon to see three or four coil looms left outside each window of some buildings. 

Our Operations Director has over 35 years of experience in the industry. His engineering background and keen eye for detail made him acutely aware of the negative impact this over-wiring had on the aesthetic and structural integrity of buildings. His firsthand observations of the clutter and inefficiency left behind by multiple providers inspired the creation of 4Fibre. He realised that a more streamlined, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing solution was necessary to protect freeholders’ properties and improve the overall installation process. 

His vision and commitment to improving industry standards have been the driving force behind 4Fibre. His extensive experience and dedication to innovation are at the heart of our mission. 

What impact do you hope your startup will have on the industry or society? 

We aim to make a substantial impact on the industry and society by simplifying infrastructure, promoting sustainability, and enhancing digital access. Our neutral-hosted infrastructure reduces the need for multiple installations, preserving building aesthetics, and reducing disruption for residents, making maintenance easier and more cost-effective. By minimising the physical infrastructure required, we help reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of fibre installations, contributing to a more sustainable future and aligning with global efforts towards eco-friendly solutions. Our solutions make high-speed internet more accessible, even in challenging installation scenarios like listed buildings and tower blocks, ensuring that more people can benefit from reliable internet access, essential for activities like remote work and online education. 

What makes your product or service unique? 

What makes 4Fibre’s service unique is its neutral-hosted infrastructure, which supports multiple CSPs with a single installation, reducing physical clutter and providing residents with more choices. Additionally, the simplified wayleave process requires only one agreement for freeholders, easing administrative burdens for both property owners and CSPs. Our approach also minimises visual impact and reduces the environmental footprint. 

Can you share some key milestones or achievements? 

We are extremely proud that 4Fibre has won three awards over the last two years at the UK Fibre Awards. It means a lot to us that the industry is recognising that the work we are doing is making a difference. 

Recently, we completed our largest single scheme at Park West on Edgeware Road. The site, which includes 530 apartments, required the installation of 2,120 fibre connections distributed across 19 cabinets, all linked to a single meet-me point. This efficient setup allows CSPs to deliver their services to all apartments immediately upon activation, ensuring residents have seamless access to high-speed internet from day one. 

What are you most looking forward to at Connected Britain? 

We are looking forward to the opportunity to connect with both freeholders and service providers. Our goal is to demonstrate the numerous advantages of integrating 4Fibre into their operations. 4Fibre offers a range of benefits designed to enhance efficiency, improve connectivity, and support future growth. We believe that through direct engagement, freeholders and service providers will gain a comprehensive understanding of how 4Fibre can meet their specific needs and contribute to their success. We look forward to discussing how our innovative solutions can help streamline processes. 

Find 4Fibre at booth S131 at this year’s Connected Britain conference, the UK’s largest digital economy event

Also in the news:
AST SpaceMobile prepares to launch first commercial satellites
nexfibre passes almost 1.3m homes with full fibre
Telstra joins UNESCO’s Business Council to promote ethical AI

News

The operator says incorporating 5G tech could generate huge cost and energy savings for the public sector

According to a new ‘Connected Spaces’ report, written by WPI Strategy on behalf of Vodafone UK, installing 5G-enabled technology like digital twins, IoT, and smart sensors to public buildings could save the UK £580 million.

The report models the current energy spend of various public sector buildings and estimates how much money could be saved via the integration of new technology. These technologies, says the report, provide a wealth of additional information about the buildings’ energy consumption, helping to drive efficiencies and limit energy use.

In total, the report found that digital twins, IoT, and smart sensors could generate an average 17% reduction in public building energy consumption, saving the average 40,000-person town up to £350,000 a year. Extrapolating this data across the UK leads us to the figure of £580 million per year.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the biggest savings could be made my incorporating these technologies in council/civil service buildings and hospitals, which could save on average £85,000 and £153,612, respectively.

Of course, installing these new technologies in the buildings in question would not be cheap, but the study estimates that their deployment would pay for themselves in 2–3 years.

Beyond pure cost savings, the new technology would also save roughly 1.43 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, helping the UK meet it sustainability goals.

Vodafone’s argument is that all of these new technologies will need standalone 5G (SA 5G) to function effectively.

“We believe that a best-in-class 5G network would provide a much-needed economic boost to the public purse, saving £580 million of taxpayer money, while also helping to decarbonise the public estate,” said Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer of Vodafone UK.

“Public buildings are critical to communities, and we want to propel them into the future – which is why, as part of our proposed combination with Three UK, we have committed to rolling out 5G Standalone to every school and hospital across the nation by 2030.”

That these technologies can only be delivered with SA 5G is not strictly true – 4G and other alternative wireless technologies would likely be suitable for at least some of these deployments. Nonetheless, SA 5G would undoubtedly provide the best performance, delivering faster speeds and far greater capacities, able to handle thousands of devices and sensors operating simultaneously.

As has become tradition for Vodafone publications over the past year, the company took this announcement as an opportunity to promote the company’s planned merger with Three UK, with the report concluding that the tie-up would “create necessary market conditions to secure a nationwide standalone 5G network”.

It also reiterated that the combined company would invest £11 billion into its network over the next decade, if the merger is allowed to proceed.

“The combined network will reach more than 99% population coverage with 5G standalone by 2034, and over 95% population coverage by 2030, as well as ensuring coverage in every school and hospital across the country helping to deliver on Labour’s manifesto commitment to reach national 5G coverage by 2030,” reads the report. “The combined business will invest over £6 billion in the first five years, and more than £11 billion for the overall ten-year plan, to create the UK’s biggest 5G network, bringing significant emissions and productivity savings to businesses and buildings across the country; safeguarding the lifeblood of communities for future generations.”

The merger is currently under investigation by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which is exploring if the deal will result in a significant loss of competition and drive-up prices for consumers.

It is surely no coincidence that the timing of this study’s publication coincides with an article in The Guardian this week, in which Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle argues that the new Labour government must approve the company’s merger with Three for the good of the nation.

The CMA is set to announce its decision on October 12.

How is the UK telecoms landscape changing in 2024? Join the discussion at Connected Britain 2024, the UK’s largest digital economy event

Also in the news:
AST SpaceMobile prepares to launch first commercial satellites
nexfibre passes almost 1.3m homes with full fibre
Telstra joins UNESCO’s Business Council to promote ethical AI

Press Release

Kyndryl, the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, and Vodafone Business, a leading telecommunications company providing a wide range of telephony services, broadband internet and digital television, today announced the extension of their relationship to enhance security and resiliency services for Vodafone’s financial industry customers. This agreement marks a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between the two industry leaders.

Under the extended agreement, Kyndryl will enable new security measures to support Vodafone customers in meeting their regulatory compliance requirements. These measures include endpoint protection services for servers, workstations, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), vulnerability services, proxy management and web internet protection services. Kyndryl will scan and identify vulnerabilities of end customer servers, virtual machines, network devices, firewalls and endpoint devices. These measures aim to fortify the Vodafone customers’ digital infrastructure against emerging threats and mitigate interrupted business operations.

Today’s announcement builds on the relationship of these teams, which was established in 2018. Since then, the two companies have evolved their work to meet the unique requirements of various industries, focusing on infrastructure, cloud and security services.

“We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Kyndryl and further enhance the security posture of our financial industry clients,” said Sascha Roeber, Head of Sales, Finance and Insurance, Vodafone Business. “By combining our respective strengths and resources, we are well-positioned to deliver comprehensive security services to our customers.”

Alexander Steineck, Vice President of Industrial and Consumer, Kyndryl Germany, said, “At Kyndryl, we are dedicated to helping our customers navigate within the ever-growing cybersecurity challenges. We are excited to collaborate with Vodafone in Germany to provide advanced security and resiliency services that address the evolving threat landscape and empower our customers to achieve their business objectives.”

The extended relationship underscores the companies’ shared commitment to innovation, excellence and delivering tangible value to their customers. By harnessing their collective expertise, the companies aim to set new benchmarks in the realm of cybersecurity and strengthen the foundation for sustainable growth and success.

Keep up to date with all of the latest telecoms news from around th world with Total Telecom’s daily newsletter

Also in the news:
AST SpaceMobile prepares to launch first commercial satellites
nexfibre passes almost 1.3m homes with full fibre
Telstra joins UNESCO’s Business Council to promote ethical AI

Customers of Sky’s broadband-based Sky Glass and Sky Stream pay TV platforms may like to know that the provider has just added the new Xumo Play app to their platform, which offers an additional 70+ “free” streaming channels including Dateline, Reuters and American Classics.

In addition, Sky TV has also added six new Sky FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming Television) channels at no extra cost, including Pick Paranormal, Emergency 24/7, Sky Artist of The Year, Sky Sports Stories, Sky Sports Classics and Sky Sports Vault – all will be home to a range of previously aired shows.

The new FAST channels will also be available on Sky Q “later this year” and integrated into the TV guide on Sky Glass and Sky Stream for seamless discovery.

Telecoms analyst firm Point Topic has posted an interesting new analysis of broadband affordability in the UK, which identifies the cheapest and most expensive ISPs for “entry level” packages by nationwide “small areas“. Suffice to say that alternative networks dominate the table of cheapest providers.

The study starts off by noting that 22.3 million premises (67.6% of the UK) now have access to a full fibre (FTTP) broadband network, which rises to 82.3% for gigabit-capable broadband (includes FTTP and HFC / DOCSIS 3.1 networks). In addition, some 7.7m premises were found to have access to 2 or more FTTP networks, and 1m were covered by 3+.

The definition of ‘Small Areas’ in this research is sadly a bit of a technical word soup: “Every LSOA (England and Wales), Data Zone (Scotland) and Super Data Zone (Northern Ireland), irrespective of broadband technology, were the basis of our comparison.” We could write a separate article on this, but suffice to say that they usually break geographic areas down into smaller populations – making it easier to analyse (e.g. standard populations of 500 to 1,000 household residents per ‘Data Zone’ in Scotland).

In any case, the results reveal that the lowest priced ISPs are all alternative networks (altnets) and the table is correctly topped by CommunityFibre’s ultra cheap £12.50 per month 35Mbps package in London, which is often promoted as a social tariff but is actually available to everybody (i.e. you don’t need to be on state benefits). But it also includes a few tiny providers (e.g. community projects like Tove Valley) and the odd wireless provider, like Zoom, albeit without mentioning the existence of data caps (Zoom’s £17 package has a 40GB cap). So there may be other caveats to consider.

On the flip side, when we look at the most expensive entry-level packages, the table is much more dominated by established providers.

Naturally, what’s available to you as individuals will of course vary depending upon your own specific location, which is why tables like this are often a bit of a moot point for many consumers.

Mobile network operator Lyca Mobile, which is a virtual operator (MVNO) on EE’s platform in the UK, is facing a significant financial hit after a Tax Tribunal ruled in HMRC’s favour over a £51m dispute related to the VAT treatment of customer “bundles” (those sold over a period of 7 years). But the operator can still appeal.

According to the company’s most recent accounts (here), Lyca had 1.7 million subscribers at the end of 2022, a churn rate of 9% and revenues of £145m (up from £138m). But they also made a loss after tax of £25.1m, which compares with a profit of £1.8m in 2021. Lyca’s accounts further noted that they were still in dispute with HMRC over an issue related to the treatment of Value Added Tax – a provision of £99m was recorded to reflect their current best estimate of exposure.

The accounts also included an independent auditor’s report from PKF Littlejohn, but the auditor stated that they had “not been able to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to provide a basis for an audit opinion” (i.e. they couldn’t sign off the accounts). Much of that related to the recoverability of a due balance of nearly £150m (here). The balance included “£105,979,000 due from related parties“, as well as “£41,704,000 due from directors and parties associated with directors” and the “completeness and accuracy of the deferred income balance of £10,870,000” related to creditors.

Suffice to say that Lyca Mobile is currently in a difficult financial position and the Tax Tribunal’s recent decision will only add to that. According to the FT (paywall), Lyca had attempted to argue that it didn’t need to pay VAT unless consumers actually used the data (mobile broadband), call and text allowances within their bundles.

However, the Tribunal sided with HMRC and ruled that VAT was chargeable at the point of sale, regardless of whether customers actually used their allowances. The only exception appears to have been on certain bundles sold before November 2017, where the allowances were used outside the European Union.

A Spokesperson for HMRC said:

“We are pleased with the judgment, which is consistent with the VAT treatment applied across the telecoms sector.”

The actual ruling confirmed Lyca’s legal liability in principle, but the amount that the mobile operator may have to pay back must still be determined between Lyca and HMRC “by mutual agreement or, if necessary, by us at a subsequent date”.

The development follows last year’s cyberattack (here), recent problems with 5G connectivity (here) and the conviction of Lyca’s French entities for money laundering and VAT fraud – the latter is something the operator is appealing against.

Lyca did not provide an immediate comment to the FT, although the operator, which separately gifted £2.15m to the UK Conservative Party between 2011 and 2016, can appeal against the Tax Tribunal’s ruling.

A new Strand Partners survey of 4,000 members of the UK public, which was commissioned by broadband and mobile providers Virgin Media and O2 (VMO2), has claimed that over a third of rural residents (or 66% of “young people“) are likely to be considering a move away to a town or city in the next 12 months. Poor internet connectivity is one of the key drivers for this.

According to the survey, the young people who are looking to leave rural areas claim that the main driving forces behind this include a lack of career opportunities (30%), poor access to services (25%) and a lack of “high-quality connectivity” (24%).

The research finds that many rural residents are struggling to access the internet, with 48% of those living in rural areas experiencing connectivity problems at least “a few times a week“, although the survey makes no attempt to define this (i.e. what kind of connectivity problems and are they related to network operators or devices within the home etc.?).

In addition, some 51% of rural Britons said their ability to work from home is negatively impacted by “poor connectivity“, with 30% claiming to not have adequate connectivity to work remotely at all. But the survey didn’t attempt to answer whether those surveyed could have perhaps found a better service via a different mobile or broadband provider. The survey only seems to consider the user’s existing experience and not wider network availability / choices or whether alternatives, like Starlink, might be viable.

Finally, 57% of rural residents were found to be worried that the departure of young people could make rural areas less desirable and lead to businesses pulling planned investments from the countryside. But VMO2 does make the point that the £1bn Shared Rural Network (SRN) project and the £5bn Project Gigabit scheme are working to improve rural 4G and gigabit-broadband cover.

However, the real purpose of this survey is to act as another vehicle for VMO2 to encourage the new UK Labour-led government to ensure that their Planning and Infrastructure Bill makes it “faster and easier to deliver essential new mobile and broadband infrastructure” (details here and here). For example, VMO2 notes how planning applications for new 4G and 5G mobile masts can take over 6 months to be approved on average.

Jeanie York, CTO of Virgin Media O2, said:

“Our research shows that poor connectivity is pushing Britain’s countryside into crisis. From deserted high streets to fewer job opportunities and issues accessing essential services, rural residents are telling us loud and clear that poor connectivity is hampering their daily lives.

The industry has a £1 billion plan to improve rural connectivity, but the Shared Rural Network relies on collaboration between industry partners, the UK Government, planning authorities and landowners.

Alongside existing investment, we need better rules in place to make it easier and faster for the industry to deliver what we promised to disconnected rural communities. The government must implement its Planning and Infrastructure Bill as a matter of urgency. It’s the only way to empower a new generation of rural innovators and revitalise high streets and communities across the countryside.”

Boosting rural deployments via planning reform and other changes is definitely something that network operators, as well as those suffering from the poorest levels of digital connectivity, might welcome. But the new government will also have to tread carefully, given the current and somewhat growing opposition – at the local level – to the deployment of new poles (telegraph poles) for running fibre optic lines.

Similar gripes are often also levelled against new mobile masts. But a lot of related planning applications for those can also be held up by frivolous or vexatious complaints, often coming from people who don’t even live in the affected area.

Suffice to say that striking the right balance on such issues remains fraught with difficulty, while completely trusting network operators to only ever do the right thing inside a community may be unwise (some do and others will try to force poles into private gardens etc.).