HOW FAST IS BORIS JOHNSON’S FAST FIBRE?
Our new Prime Minister wants everybody in UK to have access to full-fibre internet by 2025. So do I. In fact, I want it even faster.
Mr Johnson called the previous government’s commitment to reach 30m homes with high-speed fibre by 2033 as ‘laughably unambitious,’ but there is an argument that says even 2025 will see Britain cross the broadband speed finishing line trailing way behind the world’s download front-runners.
The telecoms industry published an open letter urging the new prime minister to take immediate action within 12 months setting out four areas for resolution before his vision can be realised.
They include reforms to building regulations and the tax on fibre cables, prioritising investment in digital and engineering skills, and allowing telecommunications providers access to properties when landlords are “unresponsive”.
The letter asked for more concrete commitments to broadband deployment. It welcomed the PM’s focus on improving digital connectivity and promised an industry that stands ready to rise to the challenge but demanded full commitment that the Government would give them the tools to deliver future-proof connections across the UK.
Among the challenges the letter listed levels of funding. It described the £3–5 billion in public funds as ‘a good start’ but wanted the regulatory landscape to be addressed to ensure the environment is prepared to deliver the PM’s goals.
The industry representatives also pointed to the amount of red tape between them and the realisation of Boris’ dream — including fibre tax and wayleaves access — and the challenge of new-build properties that hit the market without being ‘fibre ready’.
Skills shortages were also flagged as a challenge to fast-forward progress on the fibre plan. Industry insiders were candid about the amount skilled personnel short-fall for such an intensive-labour programme.
BT has said it would have to hire another 30,000 field engineers to meet the demands of an average of 20,000 connections a week to deliver the accelerated timeline although the company supported the objective.
As someone who has been pushing for change, calling for a real fibre-to-the-home solution rather than fibre-to-the-cabinet which stops fast-flowing fibre a few metres from its destination I welcome the intent and the ambition — but there are smarter ways to achieve them using pre-existing service channels into our homes as carriers and speeding up the fast-fibre exponentially.
Social Media Post, New PM’s Fibre Plan
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/boris-johnson-broadband-full-fibre-rollout-target-telecoms-a9037631.html
