South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)

Broadband – the future of Next Generation Access (NGA) networks

Next generation broadband will be one of the key infrastructures needed to maintain the South East’s position as one of the world’s leading regions and is identified in the 2006-2016 Regional Economic Strategy as a transformational action. The most challenging aspect of next generation broadband is the updating of the access network, that is, the part of the network which connects homes and businesses.

Given the high cost of investment in new access networks (recently estimated at £29 billion for the UK as a whole) it is not surprising that national interest and debate relating to future telecommunications technology and business models is at an all time high.

Against this background, the Broadband and ICT team in SEEDA organised a conference for key South East stakeholders on 6 October 2008 at the BT Centre in London. Chaired by SEEDA Chairman Jim Brathwaite, the event aimed to inform and engage these key stakeholders in the future development and deployment of Next Generation Access (NGA) networks.

The event was attended by over 120 people from local authority economic development and planning offices, private sector housing organisations, commercial property developers and other key sub regional players. Speakers from BERR, Ofcom and the Broadband Stakeholders Group explained why NGA is important, where we are now, where we need to be and how members of the audience could help

The full agenda for the event and all the presentations can be accessed via the links below:

• View agenda

Presentations

• Session 1: What is NGA and why is it important?
  
  
  The Big Picture
  Antony Walker, Chief Executive, Broadband Stakeholders Group
  View presentation
  
  
  UK Broadband today – the South East Picture
  David Hughes, Intercai Modial
  View presentation
  
  
• Session 2: Moving Forward – Announced Initiatives
  
  Lessons from the rest of the world
  Matt Yardley, Analysys-Mason
  View presentation
  
  
  Regulation and the Developing UK Landscape
  Clive Carter, Ofcom
  View presentation
  
  
  BT Deployment
  Emma Gilthorpe, Group Director, Industry Policy & Regulation, BT
  View presentation
  
  
• Session 3: Moving Forward – where now, what are the issues and opportunities?
  
  
  Government Caio Review and NGA Cost Modelling
  Sam Sharps, Director, Next Generation Broadband Review, BERR
  View presentation
  
  
  Regeneration Opportunities
  Stephen Dodson, DC10plus
  View presentation

For further information or to discuss any aspect of NGA deployment please contact, in the first instance, either:


David Cooper
Regional Telecommunications Development Manager, SEEDA
email: davidcooper@seeda.co.uk

Or Peter Waller
Head of Broadband and ICT, SEEDA
Email: peterwaller@seeda.co.uk