West of England launches initiative to boost connectivity

The West of England Digital Office has been launched to boost the region's economy by GBP £1.3 billion annually through enhanced broadband and mobile connectivity.

As one of the pioneering initiatives of its kind in the country, the new Digital Office is part of efforts to attract private investment and improve connectivity for approximately 16,000 households currently without access to superfast broadband. The initiative minimises disruption through a developing regional 'Dig Once' policy and delivers tangible benefits to residents and the telecom industry.

Freyja Lockwood, Digital Innovation and Transformation Programme Manager at the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, stated, "The opening of our new Digital Office is an important step to attract tens of millions of pounds of further investment into our region, particularly in more rural areas. It will help people work flexibly and stay connected in our modern world."

Lockwood highlighted the impact on businesses and residents, adding, "Better broadband will mean reliable connections for businesses and residents across the region. Streamlining processes now for businesses will make it easier for residents to stream all of the brilliant film and TV made here in the West of England."

The Digital Office aims to accelerate infrastructure deployment by serving as a single point of entry for the telecom industry, cutting red tape, simplifying and standardising processes, and removing barriers to investment. Lockwood emphasised the expected benefits: "The new Digital Office will accelerate the deployment of critical infrastructure in the West of England. By addressing common challenges, we can continue to drive innovation and create optimal conditions for broadband projects to be delivered more quickly."

The West of England Combined Authority, led by Mayor Dan Norris, has committed GBP £2.5 million to establish the Digital Office. This includes over GBP £500,000 to enhance the capacity of local council teams responsible for planning, street works, and economic development.

In line with national efforts, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has announced plans to expedite the rollout of enhanced connectivity through Project Gigabit. This government initiative aims to provide 95% of the UK with 4G coverage by year-end and ensure full gigabit broadband by 2030 with a GBP £5 billion investment targeted mainly at rural areas.

The costs associated with connecting the approximately 16,000 residences lacking superfast broadband are estimated to range between GBP £24 million and GBP £48 million. Research conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and Stantec indicates that the Full Fibre rollout programme could potentially contribute an additional GBP £66 billion annually to the UK's productivity and workforce by 2029, with figures expected to rise to GBP £73 billion by 2034.

The West of England's Digital Office will operate alongside similar initiatives in Glasgow and the Cambridge & Peterborough Mayoral Combined Authority. These offices aim to foster regional cooperation and resource sharing, ultimately smoothing the path for infrastructure improvements that benefit local economies and residents.