GPSJ WINTER 2023 2024 LATEST - Flipbook - Page 46
GPSJ
DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Tackling digital infrastructure
deficits in South and East London.
Over 150,000* premises in south and east London do not have access to high speed
– Gigabit capable – internet connections.
postcodes, the strategy highlights
best practices, learning and actions
that the public and private sector
can take together to build worldleading digital infrastructure for some
of the fastest growing parts
of London.
Commissioned by the Mayor of
London’s Infrastructure Coordination
Service, the ‘Sub-regional Digital
Infrastructure Strategy’ is part of
a wider pilot which will deliver an
interactive mapping tool and an
online digital toolkit that will assist
borough officers to deliver digital
infrastructure to their sites and
leverage additional commercial
digital infrastructure investment in
the sub-regions.
Contrary to perception,
hundreds of thousands of
addresses in London are
affected by slow digital
connectivity, causing digital
inequalities that impede the
lives of people and businesses.
The ‘Sub-regional Digital
Infrastructure Strategy’ launched
today by Local London and
the South London Partnership,
identifies gaps in 14 south and
east London boroughs. It includes
recommendations for driving up the
quality and accessibility of services
in them and will help channel
investment to areas of economic
opportunity.
With an estimated population
46
of 3.8 million, Local London
and South London Partnership
are two of London’s four subregions, representing the interests
of the boroughs of Barking and
Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, Enfield,
Greenwich, Havering, Newham,
Redbridge, Waltham Forest,
Croydon, Kingston-upon-Thames,
Merton, Richmond-upon-Thames
and Sutton.
There are over 103,000 premises
in Local London and 53,000 in the
South London Partnership subregion unable to obtain a Gigabit
capable broadband service with
many sitting in a ‘not spot,’ unable to
receive even a 30 Mbps service.
Mapping out the digitally poor
The ‘Sub-regional Digital
Infrastructure Strategy’ provides
a compelling argument for
actively pursuing digital
investment along with step-bystep guidance to public sector
officers to attract investment
and promote better quality
and more accessible services,
including:
• Map and statistics illustrating
clearly where poor digital
infrastructure issues lie.
• Recommendations for public
sector resourcing and roles, industry
engagement, procurement options
and commercial models, and key
components of a successful delivery
strategy.
• Case studies and examples
from across the UK demonstrating
successful ways of working and
benefits gained.
• The strategic, commercial,
financial, management case and
options analysis.
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL WINTER 2023/2024
Theo Blackwell MBE, Chief
Digital Officer, Greater London
Authority said “Widely available,
easily accessible digital connectivity
is essential for people to reach
public services and is key to
helping cities grow through driving
innovation and the creation of new
businesses.
“Yet there are still parts of London
that suffer from a lack of commercial
investment in digital infrastructure,
and this results in gaps in internet
coverage or ‘not spots’.
“We must address these gaps
and drive up the quality and
accessibility of the services that are
already available, to help the capital
to be a fairer, more prosperous, and
more equal London for everyone.”
Cllr Baroness O’Neill of
Bexley OBE, Chairman of
Local London and Leader of
London Borough of Bexley said
“We are delighted to launch the
‘Sub-regional Digital Infrastructure
Strategy’ with our colleagues at
South London Partnership. This
provides step-by-step guidance
to public sector colleagues for
unlocking inward investment and
maximising existing infrastructure to
benefit people and businesses in
the area. Along with the database
and digital toolkit, this pilot approach
will help all 14 boroughs tackle the
digital divide, whilst also creating a
legacy of learning that have even
wider benefits.”
Cllr Gareth Roberts, Chair,
South London Partnership and
Leader of London Borough
of Richmond upon Thames
Council commented “This joint
strategy demonstrates the benefits
of a cross-boundary approach.
Addressing the issues at a subregional level, with colleagues at
Local London, this strategy provides
clear guidance for unlocking rapid
deployment of next generation
wireless infrastructure and gigabit
capable full fibre, to align us with
other urban areas in the UK, whilst
responding to the distinct social and
economic needs of each borough.”
Find out more:
londondigitaltoolkit.org.uk
*Figures based Ofcom
Connected Nations research
published December 2023.