Meeting documents

To consider a report by the Director for Environment, Infrastructure and the Economy on progress being made in relation to Superfast, Ultrafast and Mobile Digital Technology and to identify what next steps can be taken.

The Committee considered a report by the Director for Environment, Infrastructure and the Economy providing a retrospective view of the achievements of the Superfast Dorset Programme and summarising the next steps that would be needed to be taken by the new Dorset Council and its partners to ensure that a fully future-proofed and accessible digital infrastructure - both fixed and mobile - was available to meet the significant future data demands on modern digital smart places. A visual presentation was made to Committee in complementing this.

Members were informed that significant progress had been made in improving digital connectivity and accessibility through the Superfast Dorset programme, with policy and technology having evolved considerably over the recent period.   The full fibre agenda, market analysis and stimulation, emergent 5G opportunities and challenges and smart place applications would all need the active engagement of the new Dorset Council in order that ambitions for digital place can be realised.

Of particular importance to the Committee was to know how improvements might continue to be delivered, with a specific view to identifying solutions to meet the needs of those currently having limited, little or no reception and to understand what was being done to achieve this.

The Committee was being asked to assess the progress being made and how improvements could continue to be made for accessibility to broadband. It was considered that the benefits to Dorset from this could well lead to the generation of significant economic and social prosperity. The Committee recognised that delivering the Superfast Broadband initiative was integral to the delivery of services in a more direct, flexible and accessible way.

Members recognised how important connectivity was considered to be for the prosperity of Dorset and having the means to access it was considered to be essential. Giving all residents the same opportunity to access it was an obligation the Council was determined to fulfil and all was being done to achieve this. Officers explained the technologies associated with this and how these were being applied, the process for deliverability and what practicalities there were. Innovations in technologies to improve how broadband could be delivered were constantly evolving, with wireless and satellite technologies playing a significant part.

The Superfast Dorset project aimed to deliver the most appropriate Superfast broadband solution practicable, maximising benefits in a cost-effective manner across the business and domestic community where it was not deemed to be otherwise commercially viable. The Strategy provided a basis for the successful delivery of superfast broadband. In particular, it was hoped that the continued work by Dorset Council would help to play a significant part in transforming the strategy into the delivery of outcomes.

The relationship between BT, BDUK, Superfast Dorset and the County Council and the part each played was outlined; along with the technologies involved; the areas of coverage and speeds associated with this. How the Council played its part in facilitating accessibility and delivery was drawn to the Committee’s attention. The current Superfast Dorset contract had now reached 97% of the premises in Dorset, including Bournemouth and Poole. Reaching the final 3% and identifying solutions for their connectively remained a considerable challenge. Officers reaffirmed what investment the County Council along with other public bodies, in partnership with BT, were making in fulfilling their commitment to rolling out broadband via the Superfast Dorset Programme.

The Committee acknowledged the progress being made and the processes involved in delivering it. However, it recognised that economic, commercial and technological barriers remained. Nonetheless, the Committee fully understood the socio-economic benefits that connectivity brought and hoped that Dorset Council would prioritise this too. They asked that this be taken into consideration:-

·         Development of Digital Dorset vision

·         Encouragement of Digital skills

·         Resources and volunteers in the community to facilitate digital understanding

Resolved

That the Dorset Council be asked to ensure that every effort is made to maintain and, where practicable, enhance the Superfast Dorset programme, its implementation and its Strategy so that continued success was achieved. 

Reason for decision

To ensure the continued success of the Superfast Dorset programme so that a fully future-proofed and accessible digital infrastructure - both fixed and mobile - was available to meet the significant future data demands being made on modern digital smart places.