Member Article

Bureaucracy shelved for speedy broadband rollout

The Government is set to invest £680m in superfast broadband after announcing that improved internet speeds are essential to the UK’s economic future.

A fast-tracked rollout of broadband will be enabled by the removal of red tape surrounding approval for infrastructure needed to expand internet capabilties.

Reforms announced on Friday will allow companies to install cables and broadband cabinets without the approval of local councils.

Unnecessary bureaucracy will be binned to enable firms to lay cables on or under private land without going through lengthy council hurdles and negotiations.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Maria Miller said: “Superfast broadband is vital to secure our country’s future – to kick start economic growth and create jobs.

“We are putting in the essential infrastructure that will make UK businesses competitive, and sweeping away the red tape that is a barrier to economic recovery.

“The Government means business and we are determined to cut through the bureaucracy that is holding us back.”

Mobile operators and local authorities will work alongside the Government to agree ways to streamline planning permission rules and accelerate implementation of mobile infrastructure.

A national contract will also be agreed between Ofgem, power companies and broadband cable companies to develop a power supply plan.

Commenting on the plans, Rhian Kelly, CBI Director for Business Environment, said: “Supporting the rollout of next-generation digital infrastructure will unlock innovation across the economy, allowing businesses to serve customers in new ways, and to tap new markets for growth.

“The private sector is investing heavily over the next five years to make the UK’s mobile and broadband networks world-beaters. The Government has done the right thing by targeting public money to extend coverage to hard-to-access areas.

“It’s encouraging to see this ambition now being matched with a focus on pushing projects through the planning system. Speeding up the planning processes will help the private sector to deliver the world-class broadband our country needs.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .