sfd-gov-digital infrastructure strategy for dorset v1 · and developing superfast and ultrafast...

FINAL September 2015

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A Digital Infrastructure Strategy for Dorset

September 2015


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1 Summary

It is becoming clear that local authority leadership and delivery will continue to be required

for some time to come to fully realise strategic benefits of economic growth, digital inclusion,

transformation of public services and opportunities for individuals and communities across

Dorset.

This strategy sets out the overall vision and approach to transform Dorset into a digital

economy and community.

Digital Dorset will stimulate significant economic growth by providing Dorset businesses with

access to world-class, future-proof digital connectivity, thereby giving opportunities to create

new products, markets and business opportunities.

• Access to leading-edge ultrafast connectivity in growth and enterprise zone locations to attract and retain high technology and engineering business, providing high value, highly-skilled jobs.

• Enabling all businesses to compete digitally by delivering fast and reliable superfast

infrastructure to all. • Step-change in the numbers and types of businesses taking advantage of existing

and developing superfast and ultrafast infrastructure • Work is something people do, not somewhere people go - Opportunities for more

widespread and efficient mobile working through greater availability of fixed broadband, mobile and Wi-Fi services

• Lead and co-ordinate a singular view of the fixed and mobile digital landscape;

maximising private sector investment; ensuring new build sites have turnkey connectivity; maximising the return on investments already made


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2 Background

Dorset’s local authorities in January 2012 published Dorset’s Local Broadband Plan. Endorsed by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), this plan set out the visions and actions to deliver 95% coverage of superfast broadband across Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole. It also set out a wider ambition to ultimately to achieve 100% superfast broadband coverage at speeds in excess of 30Mbit/s for all premises in Dorset by 2020, with a short-term coverage rate of a minimum of 95% of premises by 2020 This document updates that plan and describes how Dorset will meet the Digital Agenda for Europe where 100% of premises will have at least 30Mbit/s connectivity by 2020 and 50% of premises will have connectivity of 100Mbit/s and above. Superfast Infrastructure Once the national framework contract with BT started delivery in 2014, connectivity began to grow rapidly. This increase in speed and coverage will continue, with a second extension contract in place, until 2017. This programme is delivering a step-change in connectivity to faster more reliable broadband to around 90,000 households and businesses. The infrastructure deployment programme is made up of 2 separate contracts with BT, let under the BDUK national framework, and managed as one programme. Contracted delivery is for around ninety thousand premises to be passed, of which over seventy-five thousand will be at superfast speeds. The expectation is that this will deliver 97% superfast delivery across the project area of Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole, taking into account the commercial rollout of infrastructure operator, principally Virgin Media and BT. This programme has an overall value of £35m, and is due to complete in 2017. In addition, smaller providers are increasingly active in Dorset, providing other types of technology. While lacking the resilience of fibre and therefore not always classified as providing next generation access, they none-the-less contribute by reaching remote areas which are hard to reach and expensive to reach through BT solutions. Mobile technology also provides connectivity and access to data for residents and businesses. This infrastructure programme alone will not answer all broadband problems. It is currently estimated that between ten and eighteen thousand premises will not have access to superfast services, based on current contracted volumes. Benefit Realisation The programme has also stated aims of realising strategic benefits of superfast broadband throughout Dorset that will deliver the single greatest contribution: To boost economic growth through

• accelerating GVA growth in the local economy

• Businesses reaching customers in new and innovative ways, improving customer service, streamlining operational practices and achieving greater productivity

• Supporting rural small businesses, employing a significant proportion of the workforce but suffering from slow broadband because of their rural location

• supporting the retention and growth of small businesses, particularly in creative and knowledge intensive industries

• retaining and growing employment • raising and modernising skills and achievement levels


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• breaking the ‘lower wage / lower skills / lower productivity’ cycle To transform public services;

• Improving access to all public sector services for businesses, communities and individuals in a cost effective and sustainable manner

• Elderly people in need of care will be able to stay at home secure in the knowledge that through Superfast broadband they remain connected to essential care services.

To deliver digital inclusion:

• An estimated 100,000 people in Dorset are offline. These people are characteristically on low income, have limited education and are older. They lack skills and confidence to go online and can’t afford broadband at home.

• These people are the biggest users of public services including health, social care. Shifting provision of these services online will only be possible if these people are supported to get online.

• They will also save money, have better access to jobs and the chance to connect with friends and family more easily by being online,

• Achieving the Government’s vision of creating a ‘digital nation’ by 2020 where 98/99% are online (as already achieved in Norway and Iceland) will give the country a significant competitive advantage. The same is true for Dorset.

To bring new opportunities to individuals and communities across Dorset including:

• People with disabilities or caring responsibilities who can’t travel to work will be able to work from home more easily. Home broadband connections which are as fast as those in a city office will improve the quality of life and give people greater control over where and when they choose to work.

• Communication with friends and family in far places, which can change forever through video communications

• E-Learning will give otherwise inaccessible learning opportunities for all ages in all communities throughout Dorset

• People of all ages who may have never before considered setting up their own business, will discover new opportunities and options through Superfast broadband connectivity.

In addition to the infrastructure programme, there are additional programmes and projects that are being managed under the umbrella of the Superfast Dorset Programme to ensure realisation of benefits: These are:

• Communications and marketing - Encourage take up of superfast broadband

through an integrated programme of demand stimulation and marketing. Current

target of 30% take up by 2016, where service is available, with an aspiration to

increase the target to 50% by end of overall deployment term. Take up is ahead of

the assumptions and expectations set out in the contract with BT. This will mean

additional funding will be available sooner to reinvest into further coverage.

• Working with potential community projects to understand and resolve particular

connectivity problems – successfully entered into contract for delivery of superfast

broadband in the very rural Marshwood Vale area.

• Superfast Business - business support for eligible businesses with the aim of

helping them to grow through the exploitation of technology enabled by Superfast

Broadband. The primary focus was on rural areas. Programme closed as planned on

March 2015. Delivery on all aspects was in excess of expected volumes and

outcomes.


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• Dorset Women Go Digital - The 204/15 Dorset Business Women Go Digital

programme has raised awareness of the opportunity superfast broadband opens up

to start or grow businesses. It has inspired women to increase their digital knowledge

and confidence and expanded an existing network of digital mentors to sustain

support beyond the funded programme. £50k has been secured for delivery of

second programme for 2015/16.

• Small and medium-sized enterprises – Connection Voucher Scheme –

Programme for delivery of grants of up to £3,000 for businesses to upgrade to a

faster, more reliable internet connection – available during 2015/16 across the whole

of Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole.

• Digital Inclusion – Community Champions programme – with Skills and Learning

a network of volunteer Digital Champions has been established to help people build

the skills, knowledge and confidence to go online.

In December 2014, Dorset Leaders Growth Board agreed to a refresh of Dorset’s Local Broadband Plan, to ensure that work to deliver improved broadband and realise associated strategic benefits is firmly grounded in the local authorities’ current aspirations and priorities for economic growth. This is presented as this Digital Infrastructure Strategy for Dorset. This will be endorsed by all local authorities through the Dorset Local Authorities Leaders Growth Board and by the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.


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3 Vision and Strategic Context

Vision A digitally enabled Dorset will stimulate significant economic growth by providing Dorset

businesses with access to world-class, future-proof digital connectivity, thereby giving

opportunities to create new products, markets and business opportunities.

Greater availability of superfast broadband across Dorset will provide a platform and catalyst to:

• drive economic growth

• transform public services

• to deliver digital inclusion, and

• to bring new opportunities to individuals and communities across Dorset.

Strategic Context

Digital connectivity is a major priority for the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Faster and more reliable broadband is central to the Connected Dorset theme and important

for all four LEP priorities.

Connected Dorset

• To improve electronic and physical connectivity throughout Dorset particularly

through high speed broadband

Competitive Dorset

• Creating the environment for businesses to be more productive and grow

• Utilising new technologies

Talented Dorset

• Having the skills to be able to use and exploit technology

Responsive Dorset

• Address the needs of the community and business for better and more reliable

broadband connectivity

Dorset County Council’s economic strategy ‘Enabling Economic Growth 2015-2020’ sets out

a vision for a strong and dynamic Dorset economy, with strong businesses offering a diverse

range of jobs to skilled and valued workers.

Dorset County Council is committed to helping Dorset

be competitive, by:

• making the best use of people’s talents and

improve their skills

• being well-connected, both electronically and

physically.

• attracting new hi-tech businesses into the

county

• ensuring our workforce is suitably trained and

qualified to meet the needs of those businesses

• helping young people to live, work and prosper

in Dorset.

Enabling Economic Growth:

Competitive, Talented,

Connected

A thriving, robust and

progressive local economy is

central to achieving the

aspirations of the people of

Dorset.

Corporate Plan 2015-18, Dorset

County Council


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Ambition:

. Universal access to superfast broadband remains critical to the future economic and social

prosperity of the county of Dorset but the goals have shifted since the 2012 Local Broadband Plan. Furthermore Dorset’s local authorities now expressly view economic growth of critical importance to their communities. Digital connectivity is a key enabler of this.

Restated ambitions:

• 100% (as close as practicably possible) superfast broadband connectivity at 30Mbit/s

by 2020

• 50% connectivity to ultrafast services and businesses able to access faster services

as required.

• 50% take up of superfast services by residents and businesses

Government Strategy for the future

The government’s ambition is that ultrafast broadband of at least 100Mbit/s should become

available to nearly all UK premises. This is a challenging ambition, but realising it will ensure

that the UK remains among the best connected nations in the world.

DCMS / HM Treasury Policy paper

The digital communications infrastructure strategy, March 2015


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4 Broadband – Speed and Coverage

Current Superfast Broadband Model for Dorset Government and local government intervention funding for broadband infrastructure is based

on a gap funding model where market failure is present. The diagram below represents the

broad proportions of premises in Dorset that are covered by the major infrastructure

providers through their own commercial programmes and, in the green (phase 1) and yellow

(phase 2) sectors the proportion of properties covered or to be covered through the current

contracts with BT. A phase 3 programme to close the gap is envisioned by BDUK, but

programme and funding have not yet been announced.

Final 0.5-1.0% likely to require

high-speed satellite

BT superfast coverage only (incl. commercial & non-BDUK)

Dorset (Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole) superfast

connectivity

BT and Virgin premises

Virgin only

Phase 1 £19.9m public funds

97% 95% 76%

BDU

K

Phas

e 2 £2.7

m

?

2018

2016

Broadband speed definitions

Basic broadband – greater than 2Mbit/s. The Government’s Universal Service Commitment aims for universal availability of at least 2Mbit/s broadband. Ofcom estimate that only 3% of UK premises fall below this availability threshold. Although this percentage is small, the lack of even a basic broadband service poses considerable problems for those affected. In Dorset the number of premises in this category after the superfast deployment programme is 2,500 to 3,000 premises

Standard broadband – around 10Mbit/s. There is emerging evidence that a typical household requires a download speed of around 10Mbit/s. Below this level, demand is likely to be constrained. Ocfom estimate that 15% of UK households cannot currently receive 10Mbit/s. Superfast Broadband – different definitions of superfast exist, the contractual definition the

BDUK’s framework and Dorset’s contract with BT is 24Mbit/s although the Government has now

shifted its focus to 30Mbit/s.

Ultrafast Broadband – a broad term for speeds in excess of 100 Mbit/s and generally up to

1Gbit/s


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The broadband model for Dorset has been based upon the utilisation of call-down contracts

from the National Framework Agreement as negotiated by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK).

Under this model the communications supplier (BT), wherever possible, makes use of

communications infrastructure in the county to create a superfast broadband network by

extending core fibre based infrastructure deeper into the community. Householders and

business would therefore have access to superfast broadband at an affordable connection

price and internet provider subscription.

Contract 1 Contract 2 Total

Number of premises passed 87,502 3,097 89,536

Number of Superfast premises

passed

72,500 2,643 75,143

Completion date Sep-16 Apr-18

Table – Contracted delivery with BT

Basic Broadband

An existing commitment in Dorset’s broadband programme is to ensure access to faster

broadband for all those premises currently with slow speeds (less than 2Mbits/s).

Contractual changes are being agreed at a national framework level and at a local level in

Dorset to utilise satellite only in this delivery. This will enable additional superfast fibre

coverage to be contracted and there is also an intention to bring forward delivery of this

scheme by nearly a year in Dorset and implement a satellite connection voucher scheme

towards the end of 2015. Achievable speeds are significantly in excess of 2Mbit/s.

Ultrafast

Looking further ahead, industry and policy-makers are now considering the phase of broadband evolution beyond superfast broadband. Since the technologies being used to deliver superfast broadband are capable of delivering speeds of around 100Mbit/s, the forward-looking debate tends to focus on developing a roadmap to speeds of a gigabit per second (1Gbps), commonly referred to as ‘ultrafast broadband’. Consumption of data continues to grow fast, with predictions of the ‘internet of things’ dramatically increasing the number of connected devices This strategy looks forward, attempting to anticipate future requirements. Technological developments are making faster speeds a reality and these services are in reach – the concern is that the market does not repeat the pattern of superfast provision which leaves of a proportion of the mainly rural population without access to ultrafast speeds and creates a create a new generation of not-spots, that may require gap funding and government intervention. To support connectivity in the south west, BDUK has created a £10m fund for local authorities to bid into with priority given to those delivering ultrafast speeds. The intention is to work up a bid focussed on ultrafast connectivity for businesses primarily focussed in the


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Bournemouth Airport Growth Hub and the Dorchester – Weymouth Western Growth Corridor. Supporting the market to deliver better connectivity

The Government’s role is to facilitate private investment in UK infrastructure, provide policy

stability and support the market to encourage the development of innovative new services.

Government actions are set out in the Government’s digital communications infrastructure strategy and are an important consideration in what might be practicably achievable in Dorset.

The final few %

The BDUK framework solution, contracted to BT is proving an

effective means of deploying to large numbers of premises

(over 90,000 by the end of the Dorset programme). However, it

does have limitations and alternative technologies and

commercial models will be needed to reach higher levels of

coverage to deal with slow speeds and / or very low densities of

premises, in total perhaps 10 to 18 thousand premises. A

further problem is that those premises are typically going to

have very slow starting speeds and, if going to be covered at

all, will be at the end of our existing programmes.

A fundamental of our approach to date has been to be

‘technology neutral’; the outcome in speed and coverage terms

is the key contractual requirement, not the means to achieve

connectivity at superfast speeds. This outcome-based

philosophy needs to remain, but the benefits and constraints of

different technologies also need to be considered because a

mix of technologies may be needed. It is inherently a risky and

potentially expensive problem to solve.

Actions to deliver Superfast Speed and Coverage

Action Timescale Responsible Notes 4.1 Management of partners and

stakeholder engagement to achieve strategic benefits

On-going Superfast Dorset

4.2 DCC Member-led task and finish group on Superfast Broadband provision to hard to reach communities

End 2015 DCC Recommendations to DCC Environment Overview Committee and Superfast Dorset Partnership Steering Group

4.3 Delivery of Superfast Broadband infrastructure rollout through

2018 Superfast Dorset

Pilot technologies for deployment to the final percentages

Satellite. The latest solutions (using Ka-band VSAT) appear to offer superfast speeds of over 30Mbit/s downstream. However, overall capacity and latency constraints mean that this may only be suitable to serve a subset of the ‘final 5%’.

Fixed wireless access. Fixed wireless has the advantages of low cost-of-entry and flexibility. Options range from conventional Wi-Fi and WIMAX8, based on sub-licensed spectrum (e.g. UK Broadband), to LTE and white space approaches. Ofcom Infrastructure report 2014


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framework contracts with BT 4.4 Maximise the opportunity for

additional coverage through project underspend and clawback

2016-2021 Superfast Dorset

Expectation of this being worth several £M over time

4.5 Agree accelerated deployment plan for faster phase 2 deployment

End 2015 Superfast Dorset / BT

To bring forward roll-out completion to 2017

4.6 Explore opportunities for additional broadband speed and coverage - Engage with BDUK and suppliers over scoping of phase 3 programme to achieve 100% superfast coverage at 30Mbit/s by the end of this Parliament.

2020 Superfast Dorset / BDUK

Early engagement is essential

4.7 Bring forward and develop scheme for alternative technology options to provide access in remaining poorest-quality (sub-2Mbit/s) properties – aim to achieve as fast speeds as possible

End 2015 Superfast Dorset / BDUK

This is an acceleration of contractual commitment of end of 2016 – likely to be delivered through satellite voucher scheme


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5 Mobile – the 4G opportunity

The Government explains the national position in relation to mobile communications as follows:

4G mobile communications is a different proposition to traditional, fixed broadband,

but its importance in the sector is expected to grow in the coming years. The mobile

broadband industry is delivering 4G to the vast majority of premises in the UK, with

coverage above 70% and rising rapidly. Although mobile broadband is not currently

capable of ultrafast speeds, 4G+ (LTE Advanced) will be capable of providing

headline speeds in excess of 100Mbit/s, and will become widely available across the

UK in the coming years.

The four MNOs [Mobile Network Operators] are committed to investing £5 billion up

to 2017. In addition to guaranteeing voice and text coverage across 90% of the UK’s

geographic area, we will also see 4G reach 98% of the population, and 4G+ begin to

spread across the UK: Vodafone is already rolling out in Birmingham, Manchester

and London; and EE has the capacity live across central London now and estimate

that 4G+ will be available in 20 cities by 2018. Vodafone with its Open Sure Signal

technology and EE with its micro-network technology are providing improved

services to rural areas.

Sadly the experience in Dorset is that so far 4G is slow to come to Dorset, the UK’s 4G coverage varies considerably depending on the operator, but is generally limited to cities and larger settlements. Across Dorset mobile coverage for 3G and even 2G services is far from universal. Up to date mobile coverage data is hard to come by, the most recent Ofcom data (June 2014) shows for the Dorset County Council area 2G coverage at 90% and 3G coverage 67% of premises. Nevertheless, the expectation is that 4G coverage will fairly quickly overtake 3G coverage and provide a substantial improvement in the availability of mobile broadband. This is partly because of the coverage obligation Ofcom have attached to licences, and partly because some of the spectrum being used is intrinsically better at providing wide area coverage. Mobile operators have shared high-level plans with Dorset County Council, and it is clear that the next 18 months will see significant improvements in the 4G coverage across Dorset. The government’s Mobile Infrastructure Programme has, to date, delivered very little in Dorset (2 active masts) and is likely to make little difference as the programme closes in March 2016. 5G is the next generation of mobile standards and technology. This promises ever-greater speeds and will be a key-enabler of ‘the internet of things’ – connected devices. The general consensus is that the UK is still a few years away from full-scale 5G networks – London has set itself the target of 5G connectivity by 2020.

Looking ahead, there will be some convergence of fixed broadband and mobile services, but

this is currently difficult to predict. Customers won’t know whether their service is being

delivered over wi-fi or cellular services. Seamless services and significant increases in the

amount of data being consumed will mean that data will need to be ported on fibre networks.

How network operators commercialise services is relevant – the technology already works,

but is not commercially available.


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Fibre is a particularly important element of infrastructure because it underpins not only fixed

broadband access but also mobile and WiFi networks. As data traffic over mobile networks

rises and higher speed services become available, mobile operators will increasingly require

access to fibre infrastructure to make the best use of the valuable and finite spectrum

available to them.

Actions – Mobile Infrastructure

Action Timescale

Responsible Notes

5.1 Monitor and support the delivery of

the National Mobile Infrastructure

Programme, to ensure effective

mobile phone service coverage to

support economic growth across

Dorset.

March

2016

Superfast

Dorset

Update on MIP and

impact on Dorset

requested

5.2 Engage with Mobile Network

Operators to understand and

influence coverage plans for Dorset.

On-going DCC

5.3 Understand opportunities and

constraints of emerging

convergence of Mobile and fixed line

technologies

On-going tbc

5.4 Explore opportunity for making local

authority assets and land available

for siting of telecommunications

equipment.

On-going All public

bodies

4G and 5G

deployment requires

more transceivers

(masts) than

previous generations


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6 Economic growth

Access to superfast broadband provides business with opportunities to grow and become more productive without requiring physical proximity to key markets. In addition in rural areas, a fast broadband connection is increasingly important to support official returns to government departments such as DEFRA. Provision of a fast and resilient broadband infrastructure alone will not deliver business

growth and improved productivity without support to drive take-up and embed new systems

and processes.

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) make a substantial contribution to the Dorset economy. It is therefore particularly important that they have high quality connectivity. Their needs vary and some use widely available business-grade infrastructure and services such as traditional leased lines.

However, the improved performance of superfast broadband services compared to previous generations of broadband, coupled with its relatively low price compared to leased line services, means that SMEs will increasingly look to superfast broadband as a primary source of connectivity.

Support is critical to ensure businesses make innovative and transformational ICT investments. At the same time we need to encourage research and innovation to trial new uses for superfast broadband with university and industry partners.

Businesses and individuals need new skills to maximise the potential of superfast broadband Digitally excluded businesses need to understand how they can benefit from the internet and superfast connectivity. Nationally take-up of superfast broadband services by SMEs, where superfast broadband is available is only 17%.

Since April 2015, SMEs across the whole of

Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole have been able to

Approximately 30% of SMEs do

not have a website.

HOUSE OF LORDS Select

Committee on Digital Skills,

Make or Break: The UK’s Digital

Future

The world is being transformed by a series of profound technological changes dominated

by digital—a ‘second machine age’. This is already having a significant impact on the UK;

over the next two decades some economists have estimated that 35% of current jobs in

the UK could become automated. Digital technology is changing all our lives, work,

society and politics. It brings with it huge opportunities for the UK, but also significant

risks.

HOUSE OF LORDS Select Committee on Digital Skills, Make or Break: The UK’s Digital

Future


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boost their bottom line with a £3,000 Connection Voucher to get superfast broadband for

their business. Take-up of this scheme has been encouraging and is proving to complement

well the infrastructure rollout programme.

Dorset businesses are also looking for more cost-effective means of connecting at higher

speeds.

Significant research on business use has taken place in Cornwall, the most advanced of

rural programme roll-outs. This shows nearly £200m of impact to Cornwall’s economy due

to superfast broadband investment, nearly 4,500 jobs created or protected, more than

12,100 Cornish companies connected to the high-speed network. Of those businesses

connected for at least 12 months , 79% cited performance improvements, with nearly half

able to develop new goods and services. The research also found that on average,

connected businesses demonstrated over four times more growth in turnover over the same

period than non-connected businesses

It is expected that the Superfast Dorset programme will experience similar impacts, but local

research is required to evidence business growth attributable to superfast broadband.

Actions: Economic growth through digital infrastructure

Action Timescale

Responsible Notes

6.1 Digital Dorset Outline business case and expression of interest submitted to Dorset LEP

August 2015

Describes a holistic programme to deliver the ambitions of this strategy and deliver economic growth through ensuring provision of world-class connectivity (ultrafast, Superfast and Mobile) across Dorset

6.2 Secure funding and delivery of business support services to enable and ensure Dorset businesses exploit the full potential of the roll-out of superfast broadband.

ESIF

Committee

6.3 Ensure adequate revenue funding streams alongside capital, to make the most of opportunities from the rollout of superfast broadband. Develop programmes with LEPs focused on providing support to businesses and up skilling those who need it.


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6.4 Engage in Dorset’s Economic Plan

and Dorset LEP Strategic Economic

Plan,including future local growth

fund bids.

6.5 Deliver second Dorset business

women go digital programme -

March

2016

Superfast

Dorset –

contracted to

WSX

Enterprises

6.6 Small and medium-sized enterprises - Connection Voucher Scheme – to maximise the numbers of eligible businesses connecting to NGA broadband services by the end of March 2016. (business plan: 500 vouchers with £750k value)

March

2016

Funding is capped,

and at current rate of

take-up, scheme will

close before the end

of 2015

6.7 Understand coverage in key

business estates and develop

actions to improve take-up

On-going Superfast

Dorset /

EDOs

6.8 Ultrafast connections for businesses. – bid to BDUK for funds for delivery of a programme for delivery of ultrafast connectivity for the business community focussing on the Bournemouth Airport Growth Hub, proposed Enterprise Zone of Dorset Green and the Western Dorset Growth Corridor

Bid by October 2015 – delivery 2016/17

Superfast Dorset / EDOs

Part of £10m programme for south west authorities

6.9 Research - conduct quantitative and qualitative research, to identify the impact that superfast broadband has had on productivity for the county, in the areas it has been introduced to date.

tbc tbc Economic devt. budget


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7 Transformation of Public Services

Today, access to and use of the internet is growing among people of all ages and

backgrounds. In particular, people are using mobile phones over landlines and the rapid

growth of smartphones is creating a whole new group of customers whose preference is to

access and receive information and services on the move.

Public services should be shaped around people’s needs and easily-accessible, while also

being delivered effectively and efficiently during these difficult economic times. Digital

technology offers great potential for public sector organisations to deliver wide-ranging

advances on both of those fronts. In the current climate, the desire to reduce costs and

improve efficiency by taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by advances in

technology. This is primarily encapsulated in plans for ‘digital by default’

Crucially, new technologies not only allow greater scope for people to do things themselves,

but also to contribute opinions, access information and interact with others. There is

significant potential to transform how the public sector operates, with entirely new services

and products becoming possible. Online delivery can make public services easier, quicker

and more convenient for people to use, while also being less expensive than many other

methods.

Dorset’s public sector too is looking to digitise many of its services, and tele-health and tele-

care present opportunities to improve the support provided to the elderly and infirm.

Actions – Transformation of Public Services

Action Timescale

Responsible Notes

7.1 Support the county council’s digital strategy

Actions to be

developed when

corporate digital

strategy is available

7.2 Engage with the dorsetforyou.com team as it commissions a new interactive web platform


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7.3 Engage with DCC team delivering

telehealth and telecare to ensure good

understanding of infrastructure delivery

7.4 Engage with DCC team delivering the

Community Channel as it develops a

social media-based channel to bring

older people and their carers together

across Dorset.

7.5


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8 Digital Inclusion

National statistics suggest that 1 in 5 of the population is off-line; Dorset’s Citizen Panel

research suggests a similar figure in Dorset.

Organisations across Dorset are taking steps to maximise the benefits that come from the

considerable investment made in superfast broadband. Part of this work is supporting

residents in using technology and the internet in new ways to improve their quality of life,

tackle issues such as social and rural isolation and help organisations meet the needs of

residents in different ways ultimately helping to tackle financial challenges across the county.

The digital maturity of Dorset’s organisations is mixed and there are significant opportunities

to learn from each other and work collaboratively to make the most of the investment that

has been made and to work with partners to embed the ethos of digital within organisational

cultures.

At a major conference on digital inclusion held in April 2015, organisations asked Dorset

County Council, through Superfast Dorset to develop a new digital inclusion partnership that

will shape a programme of coordinated activity. This will build on the work that’s already

happening to benefit residents, support transformation within partner organisations and

contribute to economic growth.

There is a significant amount of digital inclusion activity across the private, public and

voluntary sector in Dorset. This includes

• Barclays bank – digital driving licence and ‘Tea and Teach’ sessions

• Dorset Libraries – volunteer and staff support, provides venues for training sessions

• Bournemouth Libraries – ‘Learn My Way’ course, 2006 – 2009 Connected Dorset,

volunteers

• Job Clubs – Job Centre Plus, Volunteers, signposting people to ‘Learn My Way’

course

• Day Care Centres – Friendship clubs, wi-fi enabled centres, but without terminals

• Skills & Learning – short IT programmes for older people at £1, funding digital

programme with BCHA, job club advisors, ICT drop-ins for employment

• Spectrum Housing – 10 week programme for residents, weekly drop-in sessions at

the Exchange, 5 week training programme for older people in North Dorset

• Synergy Housing – digital learning hubs, mobile office offering IT support, creative

courses to engage (craft enterprises)

The whole economy has become digitised.

As digital is pervasive across most aspects of our lives, so the ‘digital economy’ is becoming

synonymous with the national economy. Digital skills—the skills needed to interact with digital

technologies—are life skills, necessary for most aspects of life.

HOUSE OF LORDS Select Committee on Digital Skills, Make or Break: The UK’s Digital Future


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• SturQuest Enterprise – supports small business start-ups locally

• Bournemouth University – digital champions, co-ordinators volunteering in the local

communities

• Dorset CC – digital skills charter, volunteering days, registered social landlords

• Dorset Police – intro of ‘Track my crime’ in next 12 months, monitor what is

happening to your crime online

• Community & Recreation – community website

• Connecting Advice in Dorset (CAiD) rolling out four sites now to allow clients to

access CAB (Shelter, Ansbury/etc.)

• My health My Way – professionals working in libraries, POPPs, POPPs wayfinders

• BT Group – offers cheap prices for people on benefits: phone + broadband for less

than £10

• Help and Care – enables people to think digitally about getting online and delivering

services differently through their contact with us. SME that develops digital capability

through enhanced web/CRM/looking at digital options in service delivery. It also

delivers POPP and My Health My Way – key digital service developers with a range

of partners. Work with supermarket promoting digital shopping of Malnutrition project

in Purbeck/ e.g. Wareham (South Today)

• Royal Voluntary Service - Generic services but not individual: e.g Visits to deliver

library books

• Events and community activities:

o EVENTS

� Try this festival – Dorchester

� Make a Difference (MAD)

� Dorset Women’s Day

� International Day for Older People

o COMMUNITY ACTIVITY:

� ‘Drop-in Centre’ – Community Fire Station (Weymouth, The Station)

� Coffee mornings – day centres, Electric Palace, memory cafes

(Alzheimer Society), town halls, theatre)

• My Health My Way – Professionals working in surgeries, POPPs and POPPs

wayfinders working in libraries


21

Actions – Digital Inclusion Action Timescal

e Responsible Notes

8.1 Reduce the number of people in Dorset off-line, focussing particularly on the vulnerable, elderly and those who are the largest consumers of public services

8.2 Deliver programme of digital champions in partnership with Adult Skills and Learning

July 2016 Skills and Learning

8.3 Developing a new digital inclusion

partnership that will shape a

programme of coordinated activity

building on the work that’s already

happening to deliver key outcomes.

Initial role for three years.

End 2015-

2018, with

delivery

on-going

8.4 Engage with Dorset Libraries as it

develops its digital inclusion offer


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9 Opportunities for individuals and communities across Dorset

Critical to the success of the Superfast Dorset programme is that residents and services are

actually taking a service and benefiting from faster, more reliable internet connections.

Evidence in other programmes more advanced than Dorset’s, and within our programme, is

that that where demand stimulation and marketing activities take place, take up is higher.

In practice the necessary activity varies between different types of communities. Mosaic

data as well as local knowledge is being used to refine and target actions. There is currently

a real disparity between communities achieving high levels of take up and places where

there is a really disappointing lack of interest and take-up. Learning from best practice and

driving up take up in all communities is taking place within a closely-managed and evaluated

programme.

In our contracts with BT, there is a 7 year funding claw back agreement with the supplier (i.e.

BT). If higher than anticipated take-up of superfast broadband services, funding from the

programme will be re-invested in superfast broadband services in the project area. This will

need to be managed by the lead contracting authority after the work of the Superfast Dorset

project team has ceased. Benefit from potential claw-back - estimated at £2.6m over 10

years (Assumes 30% adoption vs base case of 20%)

BDUK are encouraging local authorities to achieve much higher levels of take up and have

invited proposals for how 50% take-up could be achieved.

Actions – marketing to encourage take-up

Action Timescale

Responsible Notes

9.1 Encourage take up of superfast broadband through an integrated programme of demand stimulation and marketing. Target of 30% take up by 2016, where service is available.

On-going Superfast

Dorset

9.2 Develop strategy to reach 50% take-up

Oct 2015 Superfast Dorset

Resource?

9.3 Market and stimulate interest and take-up of the Connection Voucher Scheme

To March

2016

Dorset Digital

Growth Hub

9.4 Engage with businesses to ensure

that SMEs are utilising superfast

broadband to grow their businesses

Superfast

Dorset -

EDOs


23

10 Background papers and references

Dorset’s Local Broadband Plan, Connecting Dorset Fast, January 2012

Infrastructure report 2014, Ofcom’s second full analysis of the UK’s communications

infrastructure, Ofcom, December 2014

Make or Break: The UK’s Digital Future HOUSE OF LORDS Select Committee on Digital

Skills, February 2015

Greater Connected - TRANSFORMING STRATEGIC CONNECTIVITY IN SOUTH WEST

ENGLAND, independent business-led report with endorsement from the CBI and five Local

Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in South West England, 2015.

Corporate Plan 2015-18, Working together for a strong and successful Dorset, Dorset

County Council, 2015

Enabling Economic Growth 2015-2020 Dorset County Council, 2015

Transforming Dorset - Strategic Economic Plan, Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership,

2014

2014 Digital Nation?, Tinder Foundation 2014

Superfast Cornwall Evaluation, Final Report, Superfast Cornwall, Serio, June 2015

, August 2015, Towards a one nation economy: A 10-point plan for boosting

productivity in rural areas, DEFRA


24

APPENDIX Glossary of terms

4G mobile communications

The fourth generation of mobile telecommunications technology offering an average speed

of around 15Mbps.

5G mobile communications

The fifth generation of mobile telecommunications technology. Promises to deliver speeds to

dwarf current technologies. Ofcom reports that it should be able to deliver speeds of

between 10-50Gbps.

BDUK

Broadband Delivery United Kingdom. A Government agency within the Department for

Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Business-grade infrastructure

Broadband infrastructure to aid the digital agility of business. Typically offering greater

reliability, usually through capacity being dedicated to that connection – ‘uncontended’

Connection Voucher scheme

A BDUK initiative that offers local business up to £3,000 towards the cost of broadband

installation.

Digital by default

Digital services that are so straightforward and convenient that all those who can use them

will choose to do so whilst those who can’t are not excluded.

Digital infrastructure

The infrastructure required, such as underground fibre cables and cabinets, to deliver

broadband to the premises.

Digital inclusion

A broad term describing activities to ensure that all individuals and groups have access to

the benefits of information and communication technologies.

E-Learning

Learning conducted online, through the internet.

Fixed wireless access

Alternative to fibre broadband. Makes use of transmission towers and radio signals to

provide broadband. Typically offers between 1-10Mbps.

Leased lines


25

Typically used by business. A dedicated line between two locations provided in exchange for

a monthly rent.

Mobile infrastructure programme

A BDUK programme to improve the coverage of mobile network services for consumers and

businesses that live and work in areas where existing mobile coverage is poor.

Mosaic data

Demographic information used to target more effectively to increase take up.

Satellite

An alternative to fibre broadband. Offers up to 20Mbps download speed.

Superfast broadband

Broadband that delivers speeds of at least 24Mbps.

Telecare

A service to enable vulnerable people, such as the elderly, to live independently in their own

home by allowing them to call for assistance at any time.

Telehealth

A collection of means or methods for enhancing health care, public health and health

education delivery using telecommunications technologies.


26

11 What our stakeholders are saying about digital infrastructure

Future-proofing? How do we

future-proof the final 3%? Is

the 97% actually future-proof?

What does Digital Dorset look

like?

What about the impact of the

Internet of Things?

The USC for today should

be 10Mbit/s not 2Mbit/s

High speeds open

opportunities; low speeds mean

no access

Provide or help

identify solution

for remaining

3%

Reliable broadband is now

considered the fourth utility

Meet expectations of public for ‘one

click’ shopping – customer portal for

public services

all businesses need to be digital

to succeed

Free wifi in

towns?

Priority/ aim to reach 100%

Technology changing quickly,

difficult for businesses to keep

up.

Digital connectivity

Synonymous with business growth

4G could be answer for rural

areas

The EU target of 2020 for 100%

coverage is too distant, it should

be 2017/2018

What fails of you don’t have it?

Cost is a barrier

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