Andrew Dismore

At Mayor’s Question Time today Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore AM today called upon the Mayor to help facilitate the extension of genuine full fibre broadband, including to outer London, at no cost to the public purse. (See clip here)

 Mr Dismore  asked the Mayor:

 

‘We are at last starting to see the roll out of genuine full fibre optic broadband right from exchanges into residents’ homes and business premises in central London. However extending full fibre networks requires the installation of new fibre optic cables that connect outer London Boroughs to the main Internet exchanges in Central London.

 

‘Will you ensure GLA bodies, and especially TfL, work with the private sector to make our network of tunnels and cable ducts available to Full Fibre network operators so they can expand genuine full fibre connectivity and make their fast Internet services available to the whole of London (which I understand can be done at no cost to the taxpayer so as not offend State Aid rules)?

 

‘One of the major factors preventing Internet companies from expanding their full fibre networks across London is the time it takes them to obtain the permissions (in the form of Wayleaves) they need from London’s Landowners to install their fibre-optic cables onto their properties. What can you do to publicise widely the existing regulations, which oblige landowners to allow fibre to be installed on their buildings within 28 days of receiving an application?’

 

The Mayor said it was important to emphasise partnership this way and there would be a welcome announcement very soon. In the meantime his ‘not spot’ team was working on these areas. He is supporting the Central London standard wayleave and also doing so for mobile networks. There will also be an internet access provision in the new London Plan.

 

After MQT Mr Dismore added:

‘The Government and telecommunications regulator have finally acknowledged that for the UK, and in particular London, to compete in a digital world every  London property  will need a choice of at least three broadband infrastructure providers, so I was pleased to hear that the Mayor will include internet access as part of the new London Plan.

 

‘Some of the providers who advertise  fibre optic broadband do not offer full optic fibre connectivity  from the exchange right into people’s homes, but only to the street box, with old style copper  cable from there to the home or business concerned. This is clearly not fast enough for modern internet access.’

‘Full fibre providers offer fibre optic cabling right the way through, and the difference in speed of download is phenomenal. There are various business models for this, and I have seen how this can be done at no cost to the public purse and at a very competitive price to the end user householder or business customer.

‘I want to see this service available to all residents and businesses in Camden and in Barnet, but to get to outer London, the process wold be speeded up if access was given to the GLA’s network of tunnels and ducts that are able to carry the additional cabling, especially those of TfL, which mirror the main ‘A’ roads radiating out of the  centre. If the Mayor were able to make these available, it would dramatically speed things up all round, so I look forward to the Mayor’s forthcoming announcement on this’.