Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 2
2
The Department has failed to make meaningful progress to tackle the barriers faced by operators...
Conclusion
The Department has failed to make meaningful progress to tackle the barriers faced by operators in maximising gigabit connectivity by 2025. At the time we took evidence in early November, the Department expected that state aid rules would be a domestic matter from 2021 onwards and EU approval would no longer be required. However, it had not assessed the potential impact were this not to happen in practice. It has yet to secure the legislative and policy changes that industry deems necessary to address major barriers to delivering gigabit infrastructure at pace. Responsibility for addressing many of these barriers, including changes to planning regulations, business rates treatment of fibre and requirements for new build properties, are spread across other parts of government and we got no assurance that they are being addressed urgently. Suppliers believe that legislation recently introduced to enable easier access to properties while welcome addresses only part of the problem. The Department is not clear about the potential for delay or for cost escalation if these barriers are not addressed before suppliers start work. It is also vague on the potential costs and delays from removing telecommunications equipment supplied by Huawei. Recommendation: The Department should identify which risks and barriers have the greatest potential to add delay and cost to the programme and provide a clear plan for how and when they will be addressed and the impact on time and schedule if they are not addressed.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
2: PAC conclusion: The Department has failed to make meaningful progress to tackle the barriers faced by operators in maximising gigabit connectivity by 2025. 2: PAC recommendation: The Department should identify which risks and barriers have the greatest potential to add delay and cost to the programme and provide a clear plan for how and when they will be addressed and the impact on time and schedule if they are not addressed. 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2021 2.2 The government identified risks and barriers to gigabit rollout in its Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (July 2018). Since then, the government’s Barrier Busting Taskforce has made great progress with: ● introducing legislation to make it easier for broadband firms to access blocks of flats. The Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill has finished its Parliament passage and is awaiting Royal Assent. ● Consulting on how to ensure all new build developments have gigabit-capable broadband and committed to amending Building Regulations to deliver this reform. ● Acting on access to roads. In 2020, the new digital Street Manager system went live and the updated specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways was introduced by the Department for Transport (DfT) to enable more innovative road reinstatement techniques by operators. ● Continuing to work with DfT on further reforms to simplify street works processes to support broadband deployment. 2.3 Following engagement with stakeholders since the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, the government issued a consultation on whether the Electronic Communications Code required further reforms to make it faster and more efficient for operators to install, maintain and upgrade their network apparatus. Government will publish an update on its Barrier Busting work shortly and will continue to work with stakeholders to identify barriers to deployment and take urgent action to address key issues that emerge. 2.4 The government is carrying out a technical consultation with network operators on the use of Huawei equipment in full fibre networks. This is nearing completion and the Secretary of State will announce the outcome in due course.