Expanding connectivity through wider access to high-speed broadband and continued fibre roll-out is a top priority for the telecoms sector, especially given the rising dependence on these services since the COVID-19 pandemic. With global 5G adoption projected to surge in the coming years, the industry faces a significant challenge to scale network reach to meet growing demand.
In March 2021, the UK government committed £5 billion in public funding to bring gigabit-capable broadband to the most remote 20% of premises considered commercially unviable for private investment. This funding came amid concerns that national roll-out is progressing slower than planned: the earlier aim of 100% gigabit-capable coverage by 2025 was revised down to 85% last year. A major obstacle to faster roll-out is the lack of open, decentralised data across organisations, which prevents smoother planning and coordination.
Disconnected data sources and rapidly growing volumes of information create a real headache for technical leaders managing field operations. Making that information accessible and actionable can deliver insights that accelerate broadband deployment and reduce delivery times. Organisations that fail to integrate and share their data risk leaving untapped opportunities for growth and will slow progress toward nationwide connectivity.
Fragmented, inaccessible data discourages collaboration
Reaching rural and underserved areas with high-speed broadband cannot rely solely on the major incumbent operators. A diverse mix of “alt-net” providers, wireless internet service providers (WISPs), transport and government agencies, and commercial operators willing to share or lease capacity will be essential to extend coverage to locations that are not commercially attractive to large-scale investments.
Many providers underuse the data they already possess when planning expansion into underserved regions. As networks grow in size and complexity, having an accurate, real-time view of assets and conditions—and the capability to act on that information—will be critical to improving efficiency and making remote areas more commercially viable. For instance, geospatial records of existing duct and pole infrastructure are often stored in hard-to-access formats, which makes leveraging these assets costly and cumbersome for new market entrants. Such fragmented and inaccessible data not only discourages collaboration across teams and organisations, it also undermines the efficiency and resilience of smaller operators’ networks.
Operational silos persist between workflows like maintenance and construction and between datasets such as defect logs and as-built records. Smaller operators are especially vulnerable because they may lack the resources to integrate external datasets—like nearby hazards or opportunities—into their internal processes. Equally, important context about the surrounding natural and built environment—trees that could obstruct signal, or tall buildings that could host 5G equipment—may be overlooked, creating avoidable delays in construction and lost opportunities to improve economic viability.
Open data is the solution
Breaking down internal and sector-wide silos through efficient, joined-up data sharing is essential. Positive steps are already visible: for example, BT Openreach is legally required to open its Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) database to other companies to support more agile and coordinated broadband planning.
Sharing that information enables smaller alt-net providers to enhance their planning by incorporating PIA data into their processes. By combining external PIA records with internal datasets, new entrants gain a reliable foundation of information to guide cost-effective deployments into new areas and help meet national connectivity goals.
Opening access also allows field teams to report corrections back to decision-makers quickly. This feedback loop not only improves the accuracy of PIA data but, when paired with mobile data capture, lets smaller operators incrementally build richer, up-to-date records in a cost-effective way. Integrated PIA and field data can be shared instantly with both field and office teams through mobile applications, significantly shortening the time needed for surveying, permitting and construction. Final as-built records can then be returned to the organisation that initiated the deployment, completing a virtuous cycle of continuous data improvement.
Over the coming years, telecoms organisations must adopt new approaches to collecting, analysing, and distributing data internally and across partners if they are to reach underserved communities and accelerate progress toward universal high-speed broadband coverage. This will require a shift toward open, collaborative practices that prioritise transparency, operational efficiency, and the ability to act on live data.
(Photo by j on Unsplash)
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