The Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator (DCIA) scheme forms part of the government’s wider ‘Levelling Up’ agenda. It will see eight projects across England and Scotland receive support to create digital software to simplify the actions local authorities need to take when telecoms operators ask for access to publicly-owned buildings and curbside infrastructure including street lights and bus shelters.
Amid what the government described as “a surging demand for connectivity”, publicly-owned infrastructure such as road signs and CCTV poles can be used to improve 4G coverage and form the key to the rollout of 5G, which demands a larger number of smaller cell sites. These sites involve antennas and other telecoms equipment being placed to form a network.
Under the scheme, telecoms firms are to get easier access to public buildings and street lights, bus shelters and traffic lights in 44 English and Scottish council areas in what Digital Infrastructure minister Julia Lopez hopes will deliver “the UK the connectivity it needs by rolling out better mobile coverage as quickly as possible”.
Announcing the funding, Lopez said: “Currently, mobile companies are finding it difficult to get the data they need to check that a lamppost, bus shelter or public building is suitable for hosting their kit.
“These eight pilots will help solve this by modernising the way local authorities and operators work together in a way that ultimately delivers faster, more reliable mobile coverage for millions of people. It is all part of our joined-up strategy to deliver world-class connectivity to every corner of our country.”
Street furniture and buildings can be used to host cheaper 5G network equipment with less visual impact compared with traditional phone masts but currently network operators claim it is difficult to acquire the information needed to verify that a structure is suitable.
Angus, Dundee, Fife, Perth and Kinross in Scotland, as well as Tyneside, Sunderland, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Somerset and Dorset are the locations where projects will be funded to support local councils to use new digital asset management platforms to share data on street furniture’s suitability including location and physical dimensions.
More fantastic news for #rural communities and connectivity challenged areas as @DorsetCouncilUK are selected as one of the #DCIA pilot projects announced by @DCMS Watch this space...👀 https://t.co/bGpGvPziEJ
— @5GRuralDorset (@5gruraldorset) February 15, 2022
If successful, the technology could be rolled out to local authorities across the UK. Alongside the DCIA scheme, the government has invited broadband providers to submit bids for contracts worth up to £292m to upgrade rural homes and businesses across Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland, Cambridgeshire, Dorset and Teesdale with initial work expected to commence later this year.
