Some local authorities are perhaps taking the requirements to be able to
show that there is demand for better broadband services in their area a little
too seriously. Suffolk
County Council set itself a target of 10,000 registrations for its faster
broadband scheme, and has exceeded this with 11,300 sign ups. It is extending
the deadline now until April 14th.
Now while the deadline shifting is not massive, it begs the question why? It
is often mentioned that the survey’s are needed to demonstrate to potential
bidders that there is demand for better services in a county, and thus the
bidder should invest. Alas the BDUK tendering process appears to be down to two
runners, BT in the guise of Openreach, and Fujitsu.
The message should be loud and clear to local authorities, get on with the
tendering process and awarding the contracts. Then work can start and
businesses and residents reap the benefits.
It is clear that many projects will award their contract to BT, perhaps a
case of better the devil you know, if Fujitsu with its fibre to the premises
project had used the time since putting itself forward as an option to starting
providing service in several smaller towns across the UK then we believe the
story may have been different.
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Surveys are something they can control and get on with and everyone can relate to. Creates the impression of activity.
I expected Sky offering this to all Sky TV customers not just their broadband users!
I’ve yet to see a compelling argument why my taxes should be spent on subsidising people’s internet access. That’s because there isn’t one. If you want it: pay what it costs. If you think this is too expensive, you obviously don’t want it enough. Take your hands out of my pocket.
Councils do have the problem of deciding which areas to do first. Demand, as measured by such surveys, is not an unreasonable criteria. If a delay to the BDUK project makes the adoption of FTTP more likely especially in rural areas, the I am all for a delay.
It will be interesting to see if this changes anything from the BT site which tells me no exchanges out of the 21 in my part of Suffolk are due for an upgrade anytime in the future.
Could not agree more Andrew. These surveys are the electronic equivalent of paper shuffling and time wasting.
Millions of pounds is being spent on this so called administration that could be used on more superfast roll-out.
@walker44
I have yet to see a compelling arguement why my taxes are spent on subsidising The Red Arrows/the defence of the Falklands/bailing out banks etc.
The democratically elected governments of this country have deemed that BDUK funding should be made available to provide internet access to not spots. Even if we don’t agree with it, I’m afraid none of us can specify where our taxes are specifically directed.
Being a resident of the peoples republic of Norfolk, absolutely agree with this article
`@walker you idiot, you aren’t subsidising their monthly charge. they already have access. it’s for improving speed. i’m sure you would whistle a different tune if you could not get access.
and idiots on here champion the privete sector saying it’s the only way. whenh they turn their noses up at anything they can’t make money off.
Suffolk County Council – Pissing into the wind since 1974…
I suspect they have extended the period while personnel are on Easter break, extend their employment and (as suggested earlier) give the impression of activity. It shall be interesting to see if they slip the schedule.
Public servants and technology projects do not have a good track record.
Suffolk County Council have a bit of a past as far as BT are concerned and will want to be careful not to hand any contracts over to them too quickly. Part of the delay is probably down to them trying to work out how to get past that hurdle.