Speaker
Description
Summary
2.) Forum Aims
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To give a loud, strong and collective voice to the UK fibre optic industry at a grassroots level
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To provide relevant and honest information to influencers and policy makers
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To promote Fibre to the Premises as a crucially important utility
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To identify the problems and seek out solutions, focusing on the need and how we propose to meet it
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To support the government in introducing sound and innovative digital policies relevant to the present global economic conditions
3.) UKFCF Recurrent Discussion Topics
- Funding and investment - access to funding; new sources of capital; input to the Forum provided by one of the UK’s largest and longest established investment houses; etc.
- Government programmes (Local Full Fibre Networks and 5G) - committed Forum support from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
- Access to fibre - dark fibre access; BT; Openreach; ISP competition; Ofcom regulations; rural landscape challenges; etc.
- Industry skills shortage - need for qualification standardisation; lack of cohesive training programmes across providers; lack of suitable digital connectivity apprenticeships; etc.
- Impact of Brexit - the Government’s Post-Brexit Digital Strategy; roll-out of 5G, data security; etc.
4.) UKFCF Annual Parliamentary Debating Reception
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Unique platform to bring together key stakeholders to debate topical industry issues and developments. In attendance each year are over 200 high-profile experts and senior executives who span the full spectrum of the fibre optic and telecommunications industry.
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Speakers and discussion leaders in the Parliamentary reception (and in quarterly meetings) have included the BT Group, CityFibre, Hyperoptic, Colt, the UK Government’s DCMS department, M&G Investments, the Fiber Carrier Association (FCA), FTTH Council Europe, etc.
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UK Government, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland representation.
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Hosted by Members of Parliament. Attended by members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
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Targeted public-sector attendance including the NHS, universities and local authorities etc.
5.) The Forum’s Future
- Continuation of the campaign; especially targeting the public sector with a view to educate on the impact an FTTP revolution would have on their lives, communities and workplaces; changing mindsets, etc.
- Expand the think tank; welcome further key stakeholders; continue to provide a discussion platform and a voice for SMEs especially, etc.
- Strengthening our organisation and our voice through partnership with key organisations - continued support from Grant Thornton UK LLP, one of the world's largest professional services networks of independent accounting and consulting member firms, continued assistance from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), TBC potential major UK cloud technology tradeshow partnership amongst other potential projects.
- Continued engagement with European counterparts - such as the FTTH Council Europe, learning best practice, information sharing etc.
| Talk Duration | Lightning Presentation |
|---|---|
| May we live webcast the talk?<br />(recordings will be available publicly online) | Yes |
| May we publish the slides on our website? | Yes |
| Your consent for us to publish your name and<br />affiliation as a Speaker on the UKNOF41 website | Yes |
