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CBN works with communities, local authorities and NGOs, both in the UK and internationally, to help develop community-focused, sustainable broadband networks. It brings together some of the UK’s top experts in telecommunications strategy, business development, technical implementation, and social ownership and mutual structures.
Public Service Transformation and Demand Stimulation
Leveraging public investment in broadband
A workshop and seminar from CBN Ltd and The Open University, in association with the Centre for Creative Collaboration, University of London
EVENT RESCHEDULED to:
Tuesday 25 June 2013
12.30 Registration and lunch, finish 17.30 followed by drinks and networking
The Centre for Creative Collaboration, 16 Acton Street London WC1X 9NG
Local authorities and other public sector bodies are looking to invest in broadband infrastructure – sometimes with funding from the government through BDUK or the EU, and sometimes using their own resources or in partnership with the private sector.
Key aims are to transform public services and to stimulate demand for fast broadband as a way to build the digital economy. But what are the key transformations that need to occur, and how can broadband projects ensure they come about? How can investment in infrastructure be connected to innovation and take up of new applications and services?
In this seminar CBN and The Open University will demonstrate their tried and tested ‘Imagine-IBZL’ methodology for tackling these difficult issues, showing how multiple stakeholders can be brought into an effective innovation and delivery process and helping participants make the first steps.
A must-attend event for anyone working on BDUK/UBF and other public-sector-led broadband projects.
Timetable
|
Start |
Session |
Led by |
| 12:30 | Registration and lunch | |
| 13:30 | Introduction and objectives – how we need to think differently | Shaun Fensom CBN, Dr Steve Walker The Open University |
| 13:50 | The coming disruptive impact of digital technology on communities, business and public sector | Mike Ryan, Digital Futurist |
| 14:20 | Conversation 1: Visualising your concerns | Prof. Simon Bell, The Open University |
| 14:50 | The challenges facing local authorities | Adrian Wooster, CBN and consultant to BDUK |
| 15:10 | Break | |
| 15:30 | Conversation 2: Calibrating your ideas | Prof. Simon Bell |
| 16:00 | Making collaboration work | Brian Condon, CBN and Centre for Creative Collaboration. |
| 16:20 | Conversation 3: Making your change | Prof. Simon Bell |
| 16:50 | Ways forward | Led by Prof. Simon Bell with input from CBN and OU. |
| 17:20 | Applying Imagine-IBZL in your area | CBN staff |
| 17:30 | Drinks and networking |
Carnegie / CBN Launch Report on NGA Finance
CBN and The Carnegie UK trust have launched a new report on financing rural broadband at an event in Parliament chaired by Rory Stewart MP. The report explores how the government can allocate £300M additional broadband funding, which has been earmarked for rural areas.
* Existing BDUK projects will leave 10% of the UKs population without superfast broadband.
* The last 10% will be the hardest to reach requiring quite tailored technical solutions such as fibre to the home.
* These solutions will also require different forms of financing, potentially with householders investing or paying for the connections.
* The government can allocate funding to these projects through soft loans, earning a return for the taxpayer in the long term.
It was a lively session with attendees from rural broadband projects, social investment organisations and BDUK. Richard Benyon, the DEFRA Minister was amongst the MPs who attended to better understand some of the issues about financing broadband in the final 10%.
OFCOM review of Civils Technology and Adoption
The OFCOM report on Civils technology and adoption published in November paints a depressing picture. It has a rather downbeat view of the use of alternative technologies and how these can help drive the take up of transformational digital infrastructure.
Fortunately, the report has drawn these conclusions without really looking at the activity and innovation by alternative network operators. Suppliers like Corning are delivering some of the solutions at scale in other countries and it would have been good if the authors had produced some case studies.
We’re changing!
At CBN we refreshing our website to reflect the work we’re doing – at last I hear you say!
Please bear with us as we develop the new site and please keep checking back!
