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[Bowdon]

The Government has today launched a new review that will examine what changes need to be made (e.g. planning, copper switch-off) in order to make the United Kingdom attractive for investment to support the rollout of new “full fibre” broadband (FTTP/H) and future 5G Mobile networks.

Over the past few years we’ve had a veritable mountain of reviews into the country’s future digital connectivity needs, many of which appear to cover the same subjects and as such we’re starting to grow a little weary of all the repetitive paper work. Nevertheless we today have the launch of yet another review (‘Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review‘), but at least this one appears to be well targeted.

Purpose and Scope of the Review

The Review will assess:

● The barriers to investment in digital infrastructure and next-generation digital connectivity, now and over the coming decades including cost, levels of demand, market structures and regulation;

● How investment incentives vary between different areas of the UK and across different parts of the telecoms market;

● What policy changes government should consider to encourage greater investment in new digital infrastructure. These may include encouraging greater competition, other measures that can increase the attractiveness of investment through changes in the relative risks and returns, or direct government intervention.

As part of its work the the Review will seek to address key questions that could affect the evolution of the UK’s digital infrastructure such as the ongoing convergence between fixed and mobile technologies and the transition from copper to full fibre networks.

Process

This is a cross-government Review led by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The Review will seek a wide range of evidence, including from industry, academia and other stakeholders. The evidence base will also include economic analysis, international and cross-industry comparators and analysis of competitive dynamics.

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2017/11/uk-gov-reviews-barriers-full-fibre-broadband-5g-investment.html

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-review-into-future-telecoms-infrastructure-investment

Hopefully this is another good step in the right direction.

[WWWombat]

This sounds good.

But...

In March 2015, Ofcom embarked on a "Digital Communications Review", which it introduced with the follow text:

Ten years after the completion of our first strategic review, Ofcom is conducting an overarching review of the UK’s digital communications. The aim of the review is to make sure digital communications markets continue to work for consumers and businesses.

That was a serious strategic review. A once in 10 year review. The kind of review that stamps stability into the market for a decade.

Can someone tell me why the government are embarking on another strategic review of the same material? Do they not trust Ofcom's? Do they now want something different? Couldn't they manage to get their **** together, and run one coherent review?

Is it going to carry any weight? Can it override what Ofcom decided? Or is it just another attempt by ministers to meddle?

Or worse, will it just prove to investors that our market regulator and its boss just act like headless chickens, with no way to predict any kind of return?